Romero is a martyr. He was killed in odium fidei, in hatred of the faith. John Paul II repeated this in a faint voice back in November 2003, while speaking to some Salvadoran bishops who came to Rome for their ad limina visit. The archbishop’s martyrdom was confirmed yesterday in a unanimous vote cast by members of the commission of theologians at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. They recognise the formal and material martyrdom of the archbishop who was shot at the altar whilst celebrating mass on 24 March 1980.  The news was revealed by Stefania Fallasca in an article published by Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire. She added that “according to canonical practice , all that remains is for commission of bishops and cardinals to give their judgement and for the Pope to then approve the cause, concluding the procedure that will soon lead to [the archbishop’s] beatification.”  READ MORE HERE