OSCAR Romero, the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador who was assassinated in March 1980 while celebrating Mass in a hospital, has been beatified in a ceremony in front of 300,000 people, writes William Scholes.
Romero was killed by a right-wing death squad as the country of El Salvador descended into a civil war which claimed around 75,000 lives.
He was an outspoken and couragous opponent of the poverty, social injustice, assassinations and torture which reigned in the country at the time.
He famously said that he didn't "want to be anti, against anybody".
"I simply want to be the builder of a great affirmation: the affirmation of God, who loves us and who wants to save us," he wrote in his book The Violence of Love.
Pope John Paul II gave Romero the title 'Servant of God' in 1997 and a cause for beatification and canonisation was opened. He was declared a martyr by Pope Francis in February 2015, paving the way for his beatification.
Pope Francis said that Romero "knew how to guide, defend and protect his flock, remaining faithful to the Gospel and in communion with all the Church".
"His ministry was distinguished by his particular care for the poorest and most marginalised," said Francis.
"And at the moment of his death, as he celebrated the holy sacrifice of love and reconciliation, he received the grace of fully identifying himself with he who gave his life for his flock."
Romero had a close connection with Ireland, particularly through Trócaire, the Catholic Church's overseas development agency, which worked alongside him in the 1970s.
In 1979 Trócaire began funding the El Salvador Human Rights Commission, which had been founded by Archbishop Romero, in response to the unlawful killing of 8,000 people.
In 1980 Archbishop Romero wrote to Trócaire thanking it for supporting a radio station he used to educate the largely illiterate population about their rights.
"I would like once more to thank your kindness and preoccupation for our country and our Church and the kindness of the Irish Bishops' Conference and Trócaire," he said.
Bishop Eamon Casey, who was chairman of Trócaire at the time, attended Archbishop Romero's funeral and narrowly escaped injury when a death squad opened fire on the huge crowds that had gathered outside the cathedral.
Éamonn Meehan, executive director of Trócaire, said that the beatification sent a powerful message of hope to those who have continued his quest for justice and peace in Central America.
"Archbishop Romero once said that if he was killed he would rise again in the people," said Mr Meehan.
"Today, people in El Salvador and throughout Central America continue to put themselves at huge personal risk in order to continue his mission.
"The beatification of Archbishop Romero is not only a fitting tribute to his own work, it is also a powerful message of solidarity to those who continue to put their lives at risk to speak out against injustice and human rights violations in Central America, and indeed throughout the world."
Christian Aid also worked with Archbishop Romero and Berta Aguirre, director of Procares, a partner organisation in El Salvador, said the beatification "means a lot for this country and for the victims of the civil war".
"Romero was a man of faith. His only sin was to preach the Gospel. As a great Jesuit once said: 'With Romero, Jesus passed through El Salvador.'"
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said the beatification "gives us some really important expressions" of the Christian call to holiness.
"To be holy must also include a concern for the poor and the marginalised," he said.
"Our care for those who suffer from injustice and rejection is a critical part of the journey to sanctity.
"Archbishop Romero'’s beatification as a martyr also reminds us that we must be prepared to endure opposition if we are to truly live as Jesus called us to live."
