Archbishop Oscar Romero a “beacon of light” for charity

The Caritas confederation says Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador was a “beacon of light for everyone working the service of charity”. Read full message here.

Archbishop Romero was a staunch defender of the poor and vulnerable and a promoter of peace. He was assassinated while saying Mass in San Salvador in 1980 after he had repeatedly denounced violence in his country. He will be beatified in the El Salvador capital on 23rd May.

Archbishop Romero, the

Archbishop Romero, the “voice of the voiceless”. Photo by CAFOD

Archbishop Romero was adopted as Caritas Internationalis’s patron during its 20th General Assembly in Rome from 12-17 May this year.

A message from Caritas Internationalis said, “Msgr Romero stood out as a good priest, who showed his solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, and promoted justice and freedom. He now appears as a beacon of light for everyone working in the service of charity and for the Church that proclaims the Gospel throughout the world. He is a model for all believers, for men and women of good will.”

Archbishop Romero was considered the “voice of the voiceless”. He spoke out against the military regime in El Salvador’s civil war in which 30,000 people are said to have been killed by death squads.

Caritas thanks Pope Francis for the gift of Archbishop Romero’s beatification and says, “It is an opportunity to reaffirm the Church’s evangelising vocation and its sense of solidarity with the people, especially the poorest and those who are suffering.” [Archbishop Romero’s link to Caritas]

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