Oscar Arnulfo Romero Fourth Archbishop of San Salvador Date of Birth: 15.08.1917 Country: Salvador

1. Childhood and Early Life
2. Priesthood and Studies
3. Ecclesiastical Career
4. Archbishop of San Salvador
5. Political Activism and Death
6. Legacy and Sainthood

Childhood and Early Life

Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was born on August 15, 1917, in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador, to Santos Romero, a telegrapher, and Guadalupe de Jesús Galdámez. Frail and introverted, Romero was drawn to the church from a young age. After completing three grades of public school, he pursued further education with a tutor, Anita Iglesias, until the age of 12-13.

Priesthood and Studies

On April 4, 1942, Romero was ordained a priest in Rome. He remained in Italy to pursue a doctorate in ascetic theology but was summoned back to El Salvador in 1943. During his return journey, he was detained in Spain and Cuba for being from fascist Italy. After several months of imprisonment, Romero was allowed to return home and was assigned to the municipality of Anamorós. He later served as a parish priest in San Miguel for 20 years.

Ecclesiastical Career

In 1966, Romero was elected Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador and became editor-in-chief of the diocesan newspaper, "Orientación." Despite his conservative leanings, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of San Salvador in 1970, a decision that generated some dissatisfaction among progressive clergy. In December 1975, he accepted the appointment as bishop of the diocese of Santiago de María.

Archbishop of San Salvador

On February 23, 1977, Romero was installed as Archbishop of San Salvador. His appointment was welcomed by the government but disappointed left-leaning priests who feared his conservatism would hinder the spread of liberation theology. The assassination of progressive Jesuit priest Rutilio Grande on March 12, 1977, deeply affected Romero and prompted his outspoken advocacy against poverty, social inequality, murder, and torture.

Political Activism and Death

Romero's outspoken criticisms earned him both national and international recognition. In February 1980, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Leuven. During a trip to Europe, he expressed his concerns to Pope John Paul II about the situation in El Salvador. Despite threats against his life, Romero continued to condemn the U.S. government's military aid to the new government.

On March 24, 1980, while celebrating mass at the chapel of the Divine Providence Hospital, Romero was assassinated by a single shot to the head. It is believed that his murder was carried out by right-wing death squads with U.S. support. Romero's body was buried in the Cathedral of San Salvador, and his funeral attracted hundreds of thousands of mourners. His death marked the beginning of the Salvadoran Civil War.

Legacy and Sainthood

Romero is remembered as a tireless advocate for human rights. His legacy continues to inspire movements for justice and peace worldwide. The United Nations Truth Commission held Roberto d'Aubuisson, founder of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), responsible for ordering Romero's assassination. In 2004, a U.S. court found Álvaro Rafael Saravia, a security chief for d'Aubuisson, liable for the archbishop's murder.

Romero has been recognized as a Servant of God by the Catholic Church and is considered a martyr by many. His cause for sainthood is ongoing.