Pope signals he will declare murdered priest Father Jacques Hamel a saint

Pope Francis talks during the Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican. Remo Casilli/Reuters

Pope Francis has signalled that he is preparing to canonise Father Jacques Hamel, the French priest murdered by two Islamist terrorists in July.

Father Hamel could be made a saint without needing miracles because he died a Christian martyr.

The pope, who has been declared a top target himself by Islamic State, said the Islamist terrorists were satanic.

He was preaching this morning in St Marta's chapel at a mass for Father Hamel at St Marta's chapel in the Vatican to a group of 80 pilgrims from the Diocese of Rouen, who were there with the Archbishop of Rouen Dominique Lebrun, who has recently stated his own desire to see Father Hamel declared a saint.

Father Hamel was murdered on July 26 in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.

Father Jacques Hamel, 84, had served at the parish church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray for decades. Twitter / @inesanma

Pope Francis said: "Father Jacques Hamel has been slaughtered in the Cross, just as he celebrated the sacrifice of the Cross of Christ.

"A good man, meek, a brother, who was always trying to make peace, was assassinated as if it were a criminal."

This was a feature of satanic persecution, the pope said, speaking on the Feast of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

He said it was clear that Father Hamel saw his martyrdom coming while he was there, at the altar, and accepted it: "He gave his life for us, he gave his life not to deny Jesus. He gave his life in the same sacrifice of Jesus on the altar and from there he accused the author of persecution: 'Go away, Satan!'"

Pope Francis spoke of the current growth in Christian persecution. "Today there are Christians murdered, tortured, imprisoned, slaughtered because they do not deny Jesus Christ. In this story, we come to our Père Jacques: he is part of this chain of martyrs. Christians who today suffer - either in prison or the death or torture - not to deny Jesus Christ, they show precisely the cruelty of this persecution."

It was satanic, he said, and martyrs are blessed. "We must pray to him, to give us meekness, brotherhood, peace, even the courage to tell the truth: to kill in the name of God is satanic."

A woman places flowers to pay tribute to French priest Father Jacques Hamel outside the parish church at Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, France where he was murdered in July by Islamist extremists. Reuters

Christian Today reported that Archbishop Lebrun is launching a cause for the canonisation of Hamel which he hopes will be fast-tracked. Archbishop Lebrun said recently: "The death of Father Jacques Hamel is the ultimate testimony of his faith in Jesus, he affirmed to the end. The holiness of recognition procedure... can not begin until five years after the death of the person. Formally, it is the bishop of the person's place of death to initiate the procedure. There is a local phase with a careful survey of the life and death of the person. Then the case is sent to Rome where [it is] studied before the Pope's decision."

News
US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies
US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies

A United States Federal Judge has granted an injunction that will prevent immigration agents from carrying out operations in places of worship after a group of religious organisations launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new enforcement policies.

Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss
Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss

Gyles Brandreth has thrown his support behind CBM UK’s campaign to end avoidable sight loss.

Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan
Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan

“We urge the governors of the affected states to reconsider this decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.”

Bangor celebrates 1,500 years by honouring cathedral
Bangor celebrates 1,500 years by honouring cathedral

Bangor Cathedral's central role in the city's 1,500 year history will be formally recognised