Pope OKs beatification for Rutilio Grande, Salvadoran martyr

Pope Francis has moved the Rev. Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest who inspired St. Oscar Romero and was himself a victim of El Salvador’s right-wing death squads, a step closer to possible sainthood.Francis approved a decree Friday proclaiming Grande a martyr for the Catholic faith. That means he can be beatified without having to have a miracle attributed to his intercession. He will need a miracle for canonization.

Grande was killed by El Salvador’s death squads March 12, 1977. His slaying, and his ministry in favor of the poor, helped inspire Romero, who was then the newly minted archbishop of San Salvador.Three years later, Romero was gunned down for his outspoken criticism of the military and work on behalf of El Salvador's oppressed.Francis, history's first Latin American and first Jesuit pope, declared Romero a saint in 2018.