About the Metropolitan Cathedral of The Holy Savior in San Salvador, El Salvador:
The Cathedral of The Holy Savior here in San Salvador is of great interest, being the seat of the Archbishop of San Salvador. Previous cathedrals on or near the site were destroyed: one by earthquake (1873) and another by fire (1951). Construction of the current building began in 1956 but was delayed for decades, partly due to the Salvadoran Civil War, during which Archbishop Romero prioritized aid for the poor over completing the structure.. The site has witnessed key events, including Romero’s funeral (1980, with tragic violence), protests, and celebrations after the 1992 peace accords. It was finally consecrated and inaugurated on March 19, 1999, making it one of the newer major cathedrals in the world. Pope John Paul II visited twice.
On March 22, 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama visited the tomb as part of a Latin American tour. He was the first U.S. president to visit the tomb, where he lit a candle in a gesture of respect, honoring a figure known for his human rights advocacy. The visit, marked by a moment of silence in the Metropolitan Cathedral’s lower chamber, was a powerful gesture in a country where Romero was murdered by a US-backed military junta, according to reports in. The visit was praised for honoring a human rights hero but also criticized by some activists, such as Fr. Roy Bourgeois, who felt it was a “missed opportunity” as it lacked a formal apology for U.S. support of Salvadoran forces during the civil war.Beatification: Years later, in a statement from the National Archives, Obama welcomed the 2015 beatification of Archbishop Romero, stating, “I was deeply moved when I had a chance to pay my respects to Monsignor Romero at his tomb on my visit to El Salvador in 2011”.
The Cathedral features a striking, colorful tiled facade (originally designed by Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort with vibrant folk-art style motifs; the original was controversially removed in 2012). Twin towers and a prominent dome.
The interior features a bright and spacious nave with stained glass, altars, and religious artwork. The main altar includes a historic image of the Divine Saviour of the World (donated in the 16th century). A notable Churrigueresque-style (Spanish Baroque) cupola tops the sanctuary. The building blends modernist elements with traditional ecclesiastical features and stands as a testament to El Salvador’s turbulent 20th-century history and enduring Catholic faith.
Pope John Paul II visited here twice: in 1983 and 1996, where he knelt and prayed before the tomb ( newer tomb has been built to replace the simple one shown here).
Note: A regular cathedral is simply the home church of a bishop, but a metropolitan cathedral is the primary cathedral of an ecclesiastical province. It is the seat of a metropolitan bishop (or archbishop) who has oversight over several surrounding, smaller dioceses.
About Saint Oscar Romero:
Oscar Romero served as archbishop of San Salvador from 1977 to 1980. To understand the backghround of the situation in El Salvador, you need to be aware of conditions here in the 20th century. Up until the 1970’s, a small number of wealthy families in the country owned the majority of the land and most of the population, the campesinos, lived in poverty.
Beginning in the late 1970’s, Salvadoran peasants, many of whom were inspired by leftist ideologies, began to fight for the right to ownership of the land. In response to this, the right-wing government created death squads that murdered & disfigured them to scare off others from rebelling. The regime accused the Salvadoran clergy of being infiltrated by communists and killed priests as well. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, in its efforts to quell the possible rise of communism in the country, backed the government, giving them arms and support.
Amidst this growing bloodshed, Archbishop Romero called for peace and for the cessation of violence and for an end to economic injustice. He had a weekly radio broadcast of his sermons on the Church’s station, YSAX, that was carried throughout the country. In these sermons, he listed disappearances, tortures, murders, and had a tremendous following throughout the country. As is true in most dictatorships, the government did not want the truth coming to light.
The night before he was murdered while celebrating Mass, Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador said on the radio: “I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You kill your own brother peasants; and in the face of an order to kill that is given by a man, the law of God that says ‘Do not kill!’ should prevail.”
“No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is the time now that you recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin. . . . Therefore, in the name of God, and in the name of this long-suffering people, whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you! In the name of God: ‘Cease the repression!’”
On March 24, 1980, he was shot by a government death squad while celebrating Mass at a small chapel located in a hospital called “La Divina Providencia”. Although no one was ever convicted of the crime, it is widely attributed to the regime. The likely suspects possibly fled the country and is possibly still alive.
His Funeral Mass on March 30, 1980 in San Salvador was attended by more than 250,000 mourners from all over the world. Adding to the violence, during his funeral, a group of right-wing supporters threw smoke bombs in to the crowd and opened fire on the mourners causing a stampede that killed many. Again, no one was ever arrested.
Contrary to what some might have believed, Archbishop Romero was neither a Communist or a proponent of Liberation Theology (rampant in some parts of the country at that time). These were just myths….he was simply one who spoke the truth. For more about the myths about him that have proven to be incorrect, read this.
Oscar Romero was declared a Saint by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018.
We celebrate his Feast Day of Saint Oscar Romero on March 24 (anniversary of his martyrdom).
The situation in San Salvador today is much different and, according to the U.S. State Department, El Salvador is one of the safest countries for travel in Central America.As of April 2025, the U.S. State Department upgraded El Salvador to a Level 1 travel advisory (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), marking it as one of the safest countries for American travelers in the region.
This signifies a major shift from previous high-crime rankings due to a significant reduction in gang-related violence and violent crime.
Traveling to The Cathedral of the Holy Savior in San Salvador:
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is in the historic center of San Alvador. The area is walkable but can be busy—check current conditions for any renovations in the plaza. It is open to visitors (free entry, though donations are appreciated), and, of course, modest dress is recommended.
Address: Calle Ruben Dario, San Salvador, El Salvador
Tel: +503-2271-2573
Visit the official website for the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour in San Salvador, El Salvador.