Oscar Romero Quotes

A collection of quotes by Oscar Romero.

Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, commonly known as Oscar Romero, was born on August 15, 1917, in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. He was a prominent Roman Catholic priest known for his unwavering commitment to championing social justice and human rights during a turbulent period in his country's history.

Ordained as a priest in 1942, Romero initially occupied relatively conservative positions in the Church. However, his perspective began to shift after witnessing the immense social inequality and brutal repression faced by the poor and marginalized communities in El Salvador.

In 1977, Romero was appointed as the Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital city. The assassination of his friend, Jesuit priest Father Rutilio Grande, in 1977 proved to be a turning point in Romero's life. Deeply moved by this tragedy and horrified by the state violence inflicted upon the Salvadoran people, Romero transformed into a vocal advocate against human rights abuses.

He fearlessly used his position as Archbishop to denounce the government's brutality and call for justice. Through his powerful sermons and weekly radio broadcasts, Romero became the voice of the voiceless, denouncing poverty, violence, and corruption. He actively campaigned against the military regime and its paramilitary death squads responsible for disappearances and assassinations.

On March 24, 1980, Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel. His martyrdom transformed him into an iconic figure and a symbol of resistance against oppression around the world. Today, Romero is widely admired for his unwavering defense of human rights and commitment to peace, earning him the title of "Saint Oscar Romero" after being canonized by the Catholic Church in 2018.