Pope Francis says he is convinced that Msgr. Oscar Romero was 'a man of God.â? During the flight from South Korea, he used the phrase to define the late Archbishop of San Salvador, who was murdered in 1980.
His beatification process began in 1997. But it was blocked over concerns on his interpretation of liberation theology. But now its moving along.
Oscar Romero was born in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador, in 1917. He became priest in 1942 and was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977.
At that time, violence hit El Salvador: the government was known to repress any opposition, whether from unions, politicians or nuns and priests.
It was a situation that eventually led the country to a civil war that lasted more than 10 years and killed roughly 75,000 people.
Msgr. Romero always stood for the poor and needy, making it clear that they were the first victims of the fight between the guerillas and the army.
On March 24, 1980, he was shot to death while celebrating Mass at a hospital.
Thirty four years after, Pope Francis announced that Msgr. Romero's beatification process has no impediments. The Pope explained that the Congregation of the Doctrine for the Faith 'blocked it out of prudence.â?
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