Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was born on August 15, 1917, in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. From a young age, he felt a calling to the priesthood and was ordained in 1942. Romero served in various capacities within the Church, demonstrating deep pastoral care and a commitment to education. In 1977, he was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador during a period of significant social and political turmoil in El Salvador.

As Archbishop, Romero became a vocal advocate for human rights, denouncing the violence perpetrated by both government forces and guerrilla groups. He used his sermons to highlight the suffering of the Salvadoran people, broadcasting them across the nation to reach a wide audience. Romero's courageous stand against oppression drew international attention to the plight of El Salvador, but also made him a target of those threatened by his outspoken defense of justice and human dignity.

On March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in the chapel of Hospital de la Divina Providencia, Archbishop Romero was assassinated by a gunman. His death shocked the world and served as a catalyst for increased awareness of the human rights abuses occurring in El Salvador. Romero was beatified on May 23, 2015, and canonized as a saint on October 14, 2018, by Pope Francis.