Oscar Romero: Still Presente!

Five years ago, as more than 20,000 people gathered for the twilight memorial Mass for Oscar Arnulfo Romero in San Salvador, the papal nuncio—the pope’s ambassador—announced, “We are gathered here to remember Archbishop Oscar Reynaldo Romero.” The sudden silence of more than 20,000 people holding their breath was broken by the chant, “Arnulfo! Arnulfo!” followed by, “Queremos un obispo que anda con los pobres!” (We want a bishop who will walk with the people!) throughout the rest of the Mass. Following the Mass, as the people marched to the plaza, they chanted, “Se siente, se siente, Romero está presente!” (We feel it, we feel it, Romero is present!)