Normandy priest murder church to reopen
A French priest murdered by Islamic extremists in his Normandy church is to become a saint.
Father Jacques Hamel, who was in his 80s, was killed during a morning mass at the Catholic church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in July.
At a service to reopen the church to parishioners for the time since the attack, it was announced Pope Francis had put Father Hamel on a fast track to possible sainthood.
Archbishop of Rouen Dominique Lebrun, who presided over a special ceremony to restore the sacred nature of the church, said: “Pope Francis has waived the five-year delay before a sainthood process can begin.”
For someone to become a saint usually a miracle needs to have been declared but that can be waived if there is evidence that the individual is a martyr.
Father Jacques Hamel has been put on the fast track for possible sainthood
Father Hamel was killed by 19-year-old Adel Kermiche and his accomplice Abdelmalik Petitjean.
They were shot dead by police as they tried to leave using nuns as human shields.
French prosecutors said the pair were guided by Islamic State commanders in Syria.
Mass was held inside the church in St-Etienne-du-Rouvray
On Sunday several Muslims joined in a public gathering to mark the re-opening of the church after a local imam called for “a day of brotherhood”.
The Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray attack took place 12 days after the truck attack in Nice in which 84 people were killed by a Tunisian man who pledged allegiance to IS.
Normandy priest murder church to reopen
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