CAFOD mourns death of Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort, designer of Romero Cross

The award winning Salvadoran painter, Fernando Llort, has died, aged 69.

Llort's famous Romero Crosses - inspired by Archbishop Oscar Romero who was assassinated for speaking out during El Salvador's bloody civil war - have been displayed in Cathedrals, homes and parishes around the world.

Clare Dixon, CAFOD's Head of Latin America region, said: "It is with a heavy heart that we've received the news that Fernando Llort, the creator of the Romero cross and a dear friend of CAFOD, has died.

"He created the naïve art style which has come to represent the beauty of El Salvador and nurtured an artisan traditional craft which will live on. His art is omni-present in El Salvador and shown in galleries internationally. Fernando's iconic crosses are displayed across the UK and the world.

"The sad news comes only two months before Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was gunned down at the altar in 1980 while celebrating Mass - is about to be proclaimed as a saint in Rome.

"During his life, Archbishop Romero, became the outspoken defender of the country's poorest communities against the violence of paramilitary death squads.

"Fernando's crosses are deeply inspired by Oscar Romero and his messages of justice, unity and reconciliation which Romero hoped for his country. Fernando has been able to carry on Romero's powerful words through the beauty and colourful art work of his crosses."

"In 2013, a four metre, three dimensional Fernando Llort painted Salvadoran Cross, was installed in St George's Cathedral in Southwark, London - containing a fragment of Archbishop Romero's blood stained alb and his zucchetto.

"CAFOD, is proud to have worked with Fernando Llort, he will be missed. We will keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers."

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