Death Comes for the Archbishop is a lyrical, fictionalized account of two Catholic priests sent to establish a diocese in the New Mexico Territory in the mid-1800s. The novel follows Father Jean Marie Latour and his friend Father Joseph Vaillant as they travel through the vast, rugged American Southwest, facing cultural challenges, isolation, and spiritual tests. Cather crafts a series of vivid episodes that reflect the region's landscapes, Native and Mexican cultures, and the quiet strength of faith. Father Latour's life becomes a testament to patience, resilience, and quiet devotion as he brings order and compassion to a changing frontier.