Arturo Rivera y Damas
Encyclopedia
Arturo Rivera y Damas was the ninth Bishop
and fifth Archbishop
of San Salvador
, El Salvador
. Msgr. Rivera's term as archbishop (1983–1994) coincided with the Salvadoran Civil War. He was the immediate successor of Archbishop Óscar Romero
. During Romero's archbishopric (1977–1980), Rivera was Romero's key ally. He had been the auxiliary of Romero's long-reigning predecessor, Luis Chávez y González
(1938–1977).
, El Salvador, on September 30, 1923. He was ordained a Priest of the order of Salesians of Don Bosco
on September 19, 1953. "I joined the Salesians", Rivera told the National Catholic Reporter
, "because I wanted to work with the poor, and back then they were the ones who were
doing that."
He was appointed to his first tour as Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador on July 30, 1960. At the same time, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Legia. In light of the social ferment that began in the archdiocese in the 1970s, Rivera supported the controversial pastoral work undertaken by Father Rutilio Grande
in the rural outskirts of San Salvador. According to Jesuit academic Rodolfo Cardenal, Rivera "supported the pastoral and theological innovations" being carried out by the Jesuits. However, the Church hierarchy apparently disapproved because, when Archbishop Chávez retired in 1977, they overlooked Rivera, Chávez' auxiliary, and selected the more conservative Óscar Romero as Archbishop of San Salvador, to the liberals' dismay. By that time, Rivera had been tarred as a "red bishop" because of his activism.
In September 1977, Rivera was appointed Bishop of Santiago de María—filling Óscar Romero's old post. During Romero's stormy tenure as archbishop, Rivera was often Romero's lone ally in the Salvadoran Bishops' Conference, which became divided over Romero's leadership. The bishops were split between a conservative sector, allegedly aligned to traditional institutions of power in Salvadoran society, and progressive groups influenced by the reformist doctrines of the Second Vatican Council
and the Medellín Bishops Conference of 1968. Msgr. Rivera attended both influential synods.
After Romero's assassination on March 24, 1980, Rivera was named apostolic administrator
of the archdiocese, but not archbishop—in what his friends saw as one more Vatican slight—until February 1983. Rivera's tenure was a delicate time, during which he sought to avoid Romero's fate, while still denouncing injustices and crimes of war in emphatic terms. The Church under Rivera played a role as monitor of the peace process alongside the United Nations. In 1989, Archbishop Rivera presided over one of the darkest moments in the Civil War period, when the Jesuit staff of the Central American University of San Salvador Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas" were massacred in assassinations that harkened back to murders at the inception of the war, such as the Romero assassination. Rivera reportedly told Alfredo Cristiani
, the President of El Salvador to post soldiers outside his offices. "Don't get me wrong", Rivera then told the president. "It's not that I trust the soldiers. But if I'm killed, I want it clear who did it."
The UCA massacre put pressure on the government to end the war and sign a peace deal. Rivera moderated the negotiations of the final Peace Accords signed between the FMLN and the Salvadoran government in 1992. In the final years of his ministry, Rivera eagerly instituted a canonization
process for his martyred predecessor.
Rivera died on November 26, 1994. During a 1996 visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior (Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador)
where Rivera and his predecessors are buried, Pope John Paul II
said that Rivera "entered into eternity after having seen the peace, for which he and the other bishops of El Salvador had worked tirelessly, burst over the horizon."
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and fifth Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. Msgr. Rivera's term as archbishop (1983–1994) coincided with the Salvadoran Civil War. He was the immediate successor of Archbishop Óscar Romero
Óscar Romero
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He became the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador, succeeding Luis Chávez. He was assassinated on 24 March 1980....
. During Romero's archbishopric (1977–1980), Rivera was Romero's key ally. He had been the auxiliary of Romero's long-reigning predecessor, Luis Chávez y González
Luis Chávez y González
Luis Chávez y González was the seventh Bishop and third Archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador, and immediate predecessor of Archbishop Óscar Romero. Unlike Romero, who served for three years before being assassinated in 1980, Msgr. Chávez had an archbishopric that was long and low key...
(1938–1977).
Biography
Rivera was born in San Esteban CatarinaSan Esteban Catarina
San Esteban Catarina is a municipality in the San Vicente department of El Salvador. San Esteban Catarina is set on a hill and it has kept the traditional sets of a typical village. Every year in San esteban Catarina there is a hot hair balloon festival....
, El Salvador, on September 30, 1923. He was ordained a Priest of the order of Salesians of Don Bosco
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
on September 19, 1953. "I joined the Salesians", Rivera told the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
, "because I wanted to work with the poor, and back then they were the ones who were
doing that."
He was appointed to his first tour as Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador on July 30, 1960. At the same time, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Legia. In light of the social ferment that began in the archdiocese in the 1970s, Rivera supported the controversial pastoral work undertaken by Father Rutilio Grande
Rutilio Grande
Rutilio Grande García was a Jesuit priest in El Salvador and a promoter of liberation theology. He was assassinated in 1977, along with two other Salvadorans. He was a close friend of Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero...
in the rural outskirts of San Salvador. According to Jesuit academic Rodolfo Cardenal, Rivera "supported the pastoral and theological innovations" being carried out by the Jesuits. However, the Church hierarchy apparently disapproved because, when Archbishop Chávez retired in 1977, they overlooked Rivera, Chávez' auxiliary, and selected the more conservative Óscar Romero as Archbishop of San Salvador, to the liberals' dismay. By that time, Rivera had been tarred as a "red bishop" because of his activism.
In September 1977, Rivera was appointed Bishop of Santiago de María—filling Óscar Romero's old post. During Romero's stormy tenure as archbishop, Rivera was often Romero's lone ally in the Salvadoran Bishops' Conference, which became divided over Romero's leadership. The bishops were split between a conservative sector, allegedly aligned to traditional institutions of power in Salvadoran society, and progressive groups influenced by the reformist doctrines of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
and the Medellín Bishops Conference of 1968. Msgr. Rivera attended both influential synods.
After Romero's assassination on March 24, 1980, Rivera was named apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the archdiocese, but not archbishop—in what his friends saw as one more Vatican slight—until February 1983. Rivera's tenure was a delicate time, during which he sought to avoid Romero's fate, while still denouncing injustices and crimes of war in emphatic terms. The Church under Rivera played a role as monitor of the peace process alongside the United Nations. In 1989, Archbishop Rivera presided over one of the darkest moments in the Civil War period, when the Jesuit staff of the Central American University of San Salvador Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas" were massacred in assassinations that harkened back to murders at the inception of the war, such as the Romero assassination. Rivera reportedly told Alfredo Cristiani
Alfredo Cristiani
Alfredo Félix Cristiani Burkard, popularly known as Alfredo Cristiani was President of El Salvador from 1989 to 1994....
, the President of El Salvador to post soldiers outside his offices. "Don't get me wrong", Rivera then told the president. "It's not that I trust the soldiers. But if I'm killed, I want it clear who did it."
The UCA massacre put pressure on the government to end the war and sign a peace deal. Rivera moderated the negotiations of the final Peace Accords signed between the FMLN and the Salvadoran government in 1992. In the final years of his ministry, Rivera eagerly instituted a canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
process for his martyred predecessor.
Rivera died on November 26, 1994. During a 1996 visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior (Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador)
Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior is the principal church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Salvador and the seat of the Archbishop of San Salvador...
where Rivera and his predecessors are buried, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
said that Rivera "entered into eternity after having seen the peace, for which he and the other bishops of El Salvador had worked tirelessly, burst over the horizon."