Canonization of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero Affirms Commitment to Social Justice and Liberation Theology

The canonization of Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Romero over the weekend has sparked renewed interest in his legacy of social justice and progressive theology. Romero, who was martyred in 1980 for his outspoken criticism of the military dictatorship in El Salvador, was made a saint by Pope Francis alongside six other church figures, including Pope Paul VI.

Romero’s association with liberation theology, a Latin American school of thought that seeks to dismantle oppressive power structures, aligns closely with Pope Francis’s own commitment to eradicating wealth inequality. The canonization ceremony highlighted the connections between Romero’s theology and Francis’s, with the pope wearing the bloodstained rope belt that Romero had worn during his assassination.

The road to Romero’s canonization was a long one, with Francis initiating the process shortly after becoming pope. Romero was beatified in 2015 after being declared a martyr, and his canonization required proof of a miracle, which came in the form of the healing of a Salvadoran woman who prayed for Romero’s intercession.

Romero’s canonization holds particular significance for the people of El Salvador, many of whom revere him as an icon of the religious left. His elevation to sainthood is seen as a powerful symbol for the world’s poor and marginalized populations.

In addition to Romero, Pope Paul VI was also canonized over the weekend, reflecting Francis’s wider theological and social goals. The dual canonizations reaffirm Francis’s core beliefs and come at a pivotal moment for his embattled papacy, which has faced challenges from within the Vatican over issues such as capitalism and the clerical sex abuse crisis.

Overall, the canonization of Romero and Paul VI serves as a reaffirmation of Francis’s values and a powerful expression of the direction he sees his papacy taking in the future. Romero may not be formally recognized as the patron saint of abolishing capitalism, but for many who venerate him, he embodies the spirit of social justice and equality.