Bishop Gutierrez Part of Delegation of Episcopal Bishops in Rome for Canonization of Archbishop Romero

Bishop Daniel G. P. Gutiérrez was in Rome over the weekend as part of a delegation of Episcopal priests to witness elevating El Salvadoran Archbishop Óscar Romero to sainthood.

Romero was a beloved priest and advocate against social and economic injustice.  In his last homily, on March 23, 1980, he called on Salvadoran soldiers and police to stop following orders to kill civilians, and stop the repression. “The peasants you kill are your own brothers and sisters,” preached Romero. “When you hear a man telling you to kill, remember God’s words, ‘Thou shalt not kill.” The next day, Romero was gunned down while he was celebrating Mass.

“Romero is my patron saint,” said Gutiérrez at a prayer celebration for Romero earlier in the year. “The violence that took his life still exists today.  But, there is always hope in the young people that are fighting for peace and we want to pray for all of them as well. Let us not tire of preaching love; it is the force that will overcome the world.”

Along with meeting Pope Francis, the Bishop was in the company of many others from the Anglican community including Dr. Rowan Williams (pictured), the former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Before traveling to Rome, the Bishop had meetings with the Compass Rose Society in London and was able to spend some time with Archbishop Justin Welby and his wife Caroline.  The Compass Rose Society is a group of international Anglicans/Episcopalians who seek to support the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury. While in London he also visited the Priory of the Venerable Order of St. John, of which is a member.