Salvadoran bishops request Pope Leo XIV proclaim Óscar Romero a Doctor of the Church

Bishops from El Salvador have formally requested that Pope Leo XIV proclaim Saint Óscar Romero a Doctor of the Church. During an audience in Rome on September 11, 2026, the Salvadoran prelates also requested that the Pontiff visit El Salvador to pray at the martyr archbishop's tomb.

Monsignor José Luis Escobar, Archbishop of San Salvador and president of the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador, stated that the Pope received the proposals with a “very positive and welcoming attitude.” However, he noted that both decisions require a process of consultation and discernment before a definitive response can be provided.

The meeting also highlighted the Pope's personal devotion to Romero. According to Monsignor Escobar, the Pontiff frequently carries an image of Monseñor Romero accompanied by a third-class relic, seeking his daily intercession.