"We express our condolences and solidarity" with the family of the priest and to the faithful he cared for," the Salvadoran diocese stated.
"We condemn violence of any kind," they said in a statement while they thanked " the authorities for their prompt response in face of such a sacrilegious act," in order to "find those responsible for the crime and that justice be done."
Hundreds of faithful attended the priest's funeral Mass and burial in Lolotique on April 1. Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez, the auxiliary bishop of San Salvador, presided at the Mass, which was concelebrated by the Archbishop of San Salvador, Luis Escobar Alas.
The archbishop stated that "unfortunately we must recognize and denounce sin, injustice, lies, corruption, arms trafficking, drugs and so many social evils, especially the violence which has caused and continues to cause so much pain."
"It is incredible that on Holy Thursday, after having participated in the Chrism Mass, one of our priests, Fr. Walter Osmir Vásquez, would be violently murdered. It is not possible that this should happen in a Christian country," he added.
Speaking to the media, the prelate stressed that "it is not only the person of the priest that moves us to sorrow but all those who die because of these kinds of situations which end up in these grave, very grave incidents."
Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez, emphasized that "we are here along with Fr. Walter to say: Yes to life, yes to love, yes to forgiveness, yes to justice."
This article is a CNA translation and adaption of stories originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa.