Oscar Romero (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980) was a prominent Roman Catholic priest and Archbishop in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s. After witnessing numerous violations of human rights, he spoke out on behalf of the poor and for the victims of El Salvador's long and bloody civil war. This led to numerous conflicts, both with the government in El Salvador and with the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. After speaking out against American military support for the government of El Salvador, Archbishop Romero was shot to death while celebrating Mass in his cathedral. It is believed that his assassins were members of Salvadoran death squads.
The film Romero (1989) was based on his life story. It was directed by John Sacret Young and starred Raúl Juliá.
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"And if they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people." — Oscar Romero
