 |
| Simon Carswell photo. |
President Michael D. Higgins, the head of state of
Ireland, visited the Tomb of Archbishop Óscar A. Romero of El Salvador on
Friday, October 25, 2013, during a visit to Central America. The Tomb is located in the Crypt of the
Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador, and has been visited by numerous
visiting heads of state—most prominently, U.S. President Barack Obama in March 2011. Various
Latin American leaders have similarly paid their respects at Romero’s Tomb,
including Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Pres. Rafael Correa of
Ecuador, and Pres. Fernando Lugo of Paraguay.
In June of this year, Pres. Sebastián Piñera of Chile praised Romero in
his opening remarks upon arrival at the airport. Pope John Paul II visited in 1983 and 1996.
During a ceremony the day before Friday’s visit, Pres.
Higgins paid tribute to Archbishop Romero, saying that,
“Óscar Romero has become an illuminating icon not only for the Church but for the oppressed of the world and those in solidarity with them.”Higgins remained in the crypt a little over an hour, before touring the rest of the interior of the cathedral with his wife.
 |
| Pres. Higgins speaks to reporters outside the Cathedral after completing his visit. |
 |
| Pres. Higgins listens to Msgr. Jesus Delgado as he tours the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador on October 25, 2013. |
 |
| Pres. Higgins at the Truth and Memory Monument in honor of the Salvadoran Civil War's dead on October 25, 2013. |
 |
| Pres. Higgins at the Truth and Memory Monument in honor of the Salvadoran Civil War's dead on October 25, 2013. |
 |
| Pres. Higgins tours a room used by two women killed alongside 6 priests at a San Salvador Jesuit university in 1989. |
 |
| Pres. Higgins tours the rose garden where 6 priests were killed at a San Salvador Jesuit university in 1989. |
 |
| Pres. Higgins tours the San Salvador Jesuit university where 6 priests were killed in 1989. |
 |
| Pres. Mauricio Funes (right) shows Pres. Higgins artwork featuring Archbishop Oscar Romero. |
No comments:
Post a Comment