Hommage to Archbishop Romero – Balmy Alley, Mission District, San Francisco, California

Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He spoke out against poverty, social injustice, assassinations and torture. He was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass. He had just delivered a sermon which called on Salvadoran soldiers, as Christians, to obey God's higher order and to stop carrying out the government's repression and violations of basic human rights. As soon as he finished his sermon, Romero proceeded to the middle of the altar and at that moment he was shot.

In 1997, Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the title of Servant of God, and a cause for his beatification and canonization was opened.

On 24 March 2010 – the thirtieth anniversary of Romero’s death – Salvadoran president Mauricio Funes offered an official state apology for Romero’s assassination. Speaking before Romero’s family, representatives of the Catholic Church, diplomats, and government officials, Funes said those involved in the assassination "… unfortunately acted with the protection, collaboration or participation of state agents."