Óscar Romero was a Salvadoran Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of San Salvador. Born in 1917, he rose through the ecclesiastical ranks to become an auxiliary bishop and later the Bishop of Santiago de María before his final appointment as archbishop. He is widely recognized for his vocal defense of the poor and marginalized, particularly as he spoke out against the social injustice and violence occurring during the Salvadoran Civil War. His commitment to human rights led to his assassination in 1980 while he was celebrating Mass.