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Oscar Romero beatification draws El Salvador crowds Oscar Romero beatification draws huge El Salvador crowds
(about 2 hours later)
Huge crowds are gathering in El Salvador for the beatification of Oscar Romero - the Roman Catholic archbishop murdered during the 1980-92 civil war. Oscar Romero - the Roman Catholic archbishop murdered during the 1980-92 civil war - has been beatified at a ceremony in El Salvador attended by huge crowds.
At least 250,000 people are expected to fill the streets of the capital San Salvador for the ceremony. At least 250,000 people have filled the streets of the capital San Salvador for the ceremony.
It is the last step before Archbishop Romero is declared a saint.It is the last step before Archbishop Romero is declared a saint.
He was shot dead by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in a hospital chapel on 24 March 1980. No-one has been prosecuted for the murder. He was shot dead by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in a hospital chapel on 24 March 1980.
No-one has been prosecuted for the murder.
About 80,000 people died and 12,000 disappeared during the war in the Central American nation.About 80,000 people died and 12,000 disappeared during the war in the Central American nation.
In a letter to the Archbishop of San Salvador, Luis Escobar Alas, Pope Francis said the beatification of Archbishop Romero created "a favourable moment for true and proper reconciliation.
"In this day of joy for El Salvador and also for other Latin American countries, we thank God for giving the martyr archbishop the ability to see and feel the suffering of his people," said the Pope in his letter.
Oscar Romero: Latin America’s martyr and heroOscar Romero: Latin America’s martyr and hero
'Blessed''Blessed'
The Archbishop of San Salvador, Luis Escobar Alas, and Vatican envoy Cardinal Angelo Amato are expected to preside over Saturday's beatification ceremony. The event began with a procession from the cathedral - where Archbishop Romero's remains lie in a crypt - to Saviour of the World square in the centre of San Salvador, several kilometres away.
The event will begin with a procession from the cathedral - where Archbishop Romero's remains lie in a crypt - to a square several kilometres away.
A letter will then be read proclaiming the archbishop "blessed".
Giant TV screens have been placed across the capital so that those away from the stage can watch the ceremony.Giant TV screens have been placed across the capital so that those away from the stage can watch the ceremony.
Thousands of police officers have also been deployed.Thousands of police officers have also been deployed.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was not just a churchman. He took a stand during El Salvador's darkest moments, the BBC's Central America reporters Katy Watson reports.Archbishop Oscar Romero was not just a churchman. He took a stand during El Salvador's darkest moments, the BBC's Central America reporters Katy Watson reports.
When the US-backed Salvadorean army was using death squads and torture to stop leftist revolutionaries from seizing power, he was not afraid to speak out in his weekly sermons, she says.When the US-backed Salvadorean army was using death squads and torture to stop leftist revolutionaries from seizing power, he was not afraid to speak out in his weekly sermons, she says.
"The law of God which says thou shalt not kill must come before any human order to kill. It is high time you recovered your conscience," he said in his last homily in 1980, calling on the National Guard and police to stop the violence."The law of God which says thou shalt not kill must come before any human order to kill. It is high time you recovered your conscience," he said in his last homily in 1980, calling on the National Guard and police to stop the violence.
"I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: Stop the repression.""I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: Stop the repression."
That was a sermon that cost him his life. A day later, while giving mass, he was hit through the heart by a single bullet.That was a sermon that cost him his life. A day later, while giving mass, he was hit through the heart by a single bullet.
Several conservative Latin American cardinals in the Vatican had blocked his beatification for years because they were concerned his death was prompted more by his politics than by his preaching.Several conservative Latin American cardinals in the Vatican had blocked his beatification for years because they were concerned his death was prompted more by his politics than by his preaching.
Pope Benedict XVI finally reversed this in 2012.Pope Benedict XVI finally reversed this in 2012.