Oscar Romero watched as the people of his church and many priests were assassinated by the government. He still called people to conversion and repentance. On March 12, 1977, weeks after Romero became archbishop of San Salvador, his best friend and first priest. Rutilio Grande was ambushed and killed along with two parishioners. Romero prayed publicly at length beside his friend’s remains,without first securing government permission a criminal offence.
He knew he was going to be killed and days before his murder he told a reporter: "You can tell the people that if they succeedin killing me, that I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully, they will realize they are wasting their time. A bishop will die, but the church of God, which is the people, will never perish."
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