Archbishop Romero: Memories and Reflections

Revised to include new essays as well as reflections on the recent beatification of Oscar Romero. Jon Sobrino, a Jesuit theologian from San Salvador, worked closely with Archbishop Romero and has spent much of the past thirty-five years since his assassination reflecting on the meaning of his extraordinary life and witness. In a moving personal memoir, Sobrino describes how Romero (by reputation a timid, conservative prelate) emerged as the outspoken champion of the poor and suffering people of El Salvador. He then places Romero in the context of the wider church: as believer, as archbishop, as Salvadoran, as prophet, as martyr, as inspiration for theology. Exploring each of these identities in turn, Sobrino sums up his reflections with the conclusion: “Archbishop Romero was a gospel . . . a piece of good news from God to the poor of the world