Archbishop Óscar Romero, who served as archbishop of El Salvador’s capital city of San Salvador from 1977 until his 1980 assassination, was beatified as a martyr on May 23.
Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presided at the Mass of beatification, which was attended by at least a quarter million people.
“In that beautiful Central American land, bathed by the Pacific Ocean, the Lord granted His Church a zealous bishop who, loving God and serving the brothers and sisters, converted into an image of Christ the Good Shepherd,” Pope Francis said in a message to Blessed Romero’s successor, Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas.
“In times of difficult coexistence, Archbishop Romero knew how to lead, defend and protect his flock, remaining faithful to the Gospel and in communion with the whole Church,” the Pontiff added. “His ministry was distinguished by a particular attention to the most poor and marginalized. And in the moment of his death, while he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of love and reconciliation, he received the grace to identify himself fully with him who gave his life for his sheep.”
“Archbishop Romero was an inspiration for people in El Salvador and across the Americas,” President Barack Obama said in a statement issued four months before the Pope’s visit to Washington.
