Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) – The President of the United States of America, Barak Obama, at the conclusion of his visit to Latin America, will visit the grave of Archbishop Oscar A. Romero the day before the thirty-first anniversary of the violent death of the Archbishop of San Salvador, who was killed on 24 March, 1980. The current Archbishop of San Salvador, Bishop José Luis Escobar Alas, in breaking the news said that President Obama deemed Archbishop Romero one of the “heroes of our continent” and thus believes that the visit is “a global event”, from which people may draw benefit from the very image of Archbishop Romero. The current Archbishop does not consider Obama's tribute a political stunt, mainly because the figure of Archbishop Romero has already assumed global transcendence.
President Obama will visit the crypt housing the remains of the “Santo Romero de America”, as Archbishop Romero is known in Latin America. During his official visit to San Salvador, 22 and 23 March, a private meeting is also scheduled with President of El Salvador Mauricio Funes. The visit is part of a journey that has also brought President Obama to Brazil and Chile.
In the memo sent to Fides, Archbishop Escobar Alas confirmed his presence at the event, as requested by the United States Ambassador in El Salvador. He also expressed his appreciation for the honour that the President of the United States will come and visit the grave of Archbishop Romero, an indefatigable defender of human rights. Known as “the voice of the voiceless” for having denounced social injustice, military repression and the criminals from the death squads, Archbishop Romero was murdered on the evening of 24 March 1980, while celebrating Mass in the Hospital of Divine Providence in San Salvador. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 21/03/2011)
