Paul KeenanSainthood cause ‘proceeding well’
The Catholic bishops of El Salvador have invited Pope Francis to travel to El Salvador to beatify the late Archbishop Oscar Romero locally.
Archbishop Jose Escobar Alas has revealed that the invitation was extended on May 9 as he and three other Salvadoran prelates met with the Pontiff in Rome. During the meeting, Pope Francis assured them that Romero’s sainthood cause is proceeding well, though he offered no timescale for completion.
"We ask the Lord for the speedy beatification of Archbishop Romero and that the Pope comes here" to celebrate the ceremony, Archbishop Escobar said.
Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause was opened at the Vatican in 1993, but was delayed for years as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith studied his writings, amid wider debate over whether he had been killed for his faith or for political reasons.
In 2013, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family and official promoter of Archbishop Romero's sainthood cause, said the process had been "unblocked," but gave no further details.
Before the archbishop can be beatified, Pope Francis must either sign a decree recognising him as a martyr or recognising a miracle received through his intercession.