Church: Oscar Romero Considered for Canonization

Archbishop Oscar Romero
Archbishop Oscar Romero (photo: National Catholic Reporter)
By Mei ManuelMarch 6th, 2017

On Sunday, CBS News reported that assassinated Archibishop of San Salvador Oscar Romero is being considered by the Vatican for canonization and is currently looking for a possible miracle.

According to Archbishop of San Salvador Jose Luis Escobar Alas, local church officials in El Salvador that the reported miracle done by the martyr is real. He did note that it could take a long time for the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints to verify the miracle's veracity.

A miracle attributed to a person is an important step in becoming a saint after being beatified. However, if someone is considered a martyr, they would only need one miracle attributed to them before being canonized. The Pope has the power to waive this requirement if he deems it.

This announcement comes after Pope Francis said Romero, who was shot by a sniper in 1980, had been killed out of hatred for his faith so approving his status as a martyr in February 2015. He was beatified later in the year.

The former archbishop is currently known as "Saint Romero of the Americas" and was well-known for his left-wing stance prior to the civil war from 1980 to 1992. He had also spoken against oppression by the military.

He was assassinated while holding a mass at a hospital chapel when the civil war broke out.

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