The pontiff also said that killing in the name of God is "satanic."

On Wednesday morning, Francis celebrated Mass in honor of the murdered priest, joined by 80 pilgrims from Hamel's French diocese of Rouen. The celebration was live-streamed through the Vatican's YouTube channel.

In his homily, the pontiff called the priest "blessed," the step prior to sainthood, asking the faithful to pray for his intercession, so that he "gives us the courage to say the truth: to kill in the name of God is satanic."

"This man accepted his martyrdom next to the martyrdom of Christ, on the altar," Francis said during his improvised homily, which was interpreted into French as he was delivering it. "He was beheaded on the Cross, as he was celebrating the sacrifice of Christ's cross [the Mass]."

Hamel had retired nearly a decade ago, but continued to serve as an assistant priest at the church in St Etienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of Rouen. When the two assailants burst into the church on July 26, he was leading the service in the absence of the regular priest.

"This makes me think so much… amidst the difficult moment he was living, amidst the tragedy that he saw coming, this humble, good man, who worked for fraternity, didn't lose the lucidity to accuse and clearly named his assassin. He said clearly: ‘Satan, go!'"

Hamel, Francis said, gave his life "in the same sacrifice of Jesus on the altar. And from there, he named the author of the persecution."

"He gave his life for us so as not to deny Jesus," Francis said. "He is a martyr and martyrs are beatified."

Source

• Crux
• Image: www.journal.re
  

The requiem Mass, was led by the city of Rouen's archbishop, Dominique Lebrun and afterwards Father Hamel was interred with a private burial ceremony.

The archbishop told mourners that after his throat was slit, Hamel pushed one of his attackers with his feet, saying: "Get away, Satan."

At the funeral Hamel's sister, Roselyne, told the congregation her brother had been a man of "mercy and love.

She said Father Hamel's message to everyone would be: "Let us learn to live together. Let us be the workers and artisans of peace, each one in his own way."

The marked difference between ISIS members and other Muslims was also evident at Mass last Sunday, attended by hundreds of Muslims in both Italy and France.

In an unusual joint statement, a group of more than 40 Muslim professionals said French Muslims must move from the shadows to front and center, and take action because those representing Islam have lost touch with the young.

"We were silent because we learned that in France religion is a private affair," the signers wrote, referring to the secular values France prizes and the French model of integration by which citizens forego their cultures of origin for Frenchness.

"Now we must speak because Islam has become a public affair and the current situation is intolerable."

Source

• Breitbart
• NZ Herald
• RadioNZ
• The Guardian
• Image: VoaNews