Archbishop Romero's Pastoral Letters
Pastoral letters are written by a bishop to his people to inform, to inspire, to challenge and to encourage them in their lives as Christians. These letters are works of theological importance and situate Archbishop Romero amongst the great teaching bishops of the Church.
The first four letters below come from his time as Archbishop of San Salvador - these are his best known pastoral letters. They are published in English, with introductory essays by Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Martín Baró, under the title Voice of the Voiceless. The volume is available in the US from Orbis Books and available to UK readers via online booksellers.
The fifth letter has come to light more recently. It is from an earlier period of his ministry when he was Bishop of Santiago de Maria. Readers will note the difference in style and content.
First Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Romero. Easter Sunday, April 10, 1977.
The Church, the Body of Christ in History
Second Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Romero. Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 1977.
The Church and Popular Political Organizations
Third Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Romero, co-authored by Bishop Arturo Rivera y Damas, Bishop of Santiago de María, Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 1978.
The Church's Mission amid the National Crisis
Fourth Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Romero, Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 1979.
(Addendum: 5th Pastoral Letter) The Holy Spirit in the Church
This letter was written by Bishop Romero as Bishop of Santiago de Maria in 1975 - two years before becoming Archbishop of San Salvador. It has been translated for the Trust by Fr Joe Owens SJ.
A final substantial theological reflection from Archbishop Romero, without the formal status of a Pastoral Letter, is his lecture at Louvain University in Belgium given on the 2 February 1980 in accepting an honorary doctorate.