Cardinal Fitzgerald: Archbishop Romero is a figure of Hope

Around 80 participants placed candles and roses around a bust of St Oscar Romero at the altar of St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square.

The world today is badly in need of hope and the late Archbishop Oscar Romero is a “figure of hope”, Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald M.Afr. said in his address at last Saturday’s annual national ecumenical service in London to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who was canonised seven years ago. The theme was, “Excavating Hope: Faiths seeking the promises of God.”

The cardinal continued: “We are called to believe in life as Archbishop Romero did… hoping against hope that conditions will revive, conditions in Gaza, in Israel and Palestine, in Tigray in the North of Ethiopia, in Sudan and Eastern Congo, in Myanmar and Yemen conditions in El Salvador, conditions all around the world where there is conflict.”

He urged ongoing prayers for people in conflict areas, “following the example of Pope Francis who, every Sunday, at the midday prayer, mentions these places and prays for their inhabitants”.  

 The Tablet Interview: Ruth Gledhill speaks to Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald

Sermon: Remembering Romero

He spoke of the Gospel imperative in Matthew 25 to give practical help to the vulnerable and the Qur’an 107 which disapproves of those “who pray but are heedless of their prayer; those who are all show and forbid common kindnesses”. This drew on his experience as an expert in Christian-Muslim relations. From 2002-2006 he headed the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and, later, was apostolic nuncio to Egypt and delegate to the Arab League.

Quoting from Archbishop Romero, he suggested that at this time when Ramadan and Lent fall together in the same period, “We need to be rational and listen to the voice of God, to organise a more just society once more according to God’s heart.” He said people of all religions should pray “for this gift of Hope, true hope which will generate justice-seeking solidarity, hope which may presage true peace.”  He added, “In this way we shall be true to ourselves, true to our religions and true to Oscar Romero who has given us such a good example.”

Around 80 participants had placed candles and roses around a bust of St Oscar Romero at the altar of St Martin-in-the-Fields church, Trafalgar Square, before Revd Richard Carter welcomed the congregation and those online. “This is always an important service in our church and perhaps it is more important than ever this year,” he said. 

He quoted Archbishop Romero’s words, which, which he said ring out louder than ever: “Let us not tire of preaching love, it is the force that will overcome the world. A Church that does not provoke any crisis, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that does not get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that does not touch the real sin of society in which it is being proclaimed, what gospel is that? I will not tire of declaring that if we really want an effective end to violence, we must remove the violence that lies at the root of all violence: structural violence, social injustice, poverty and exclusion of citizens, repression.”

Archbishop Romero was assassinated by a right-wing death squad in El Salvador on 24 March 1980 while celebrating Mass. Many events in his honour have taken place around the UK in this year’s Romero Week. Saturday’s service was organised by the Archbishop Romero Trust, in conjunction with St Martin in the Fields, Conference of Religious, Cafod, Christian Aid, Missio, National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales and Pax Christi.

The congregation at St Martin’s included representatives of these organisations, among them Clare Dixon and Stephen Davies of the Archbishop Romero Trust; Christine Allen, director of Cafod and Colette Joyce of Westminster Justice and Peace. Several Salvadoreans present included a man baptised by Archbishop Oscar Romero. The service was live-streamed to a wider audience.

Inspirational music about discipleship in today’s world was led by Chris Olding of Wheatsheaf Music on piano and included stirring justice and peace hymns. These included Olding’s own hymn, “God you raise up true disciples”. The blessing and sending forth included: “The spirit of unity draws us all together to secure the liberation of the poor and destitute and the integrity of creation, here and across the world.”

A recording of the service is available here, and more details about Oscar Romero from the Archbishop Romero Trust.

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