Fr Jacques Hamel The martyrdom of a French priest who was killed by Islamist extremists has brought the Muslim and Christian communities closer together, according to Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen.
On the anniversary of the terror attack last week the archbishop said the event “transformed” him.
Fr Jacques Hamel was killed at the age of 85 when two men claiming allegiance to the so-called Islamic State stormed his parish church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen.
After taking several hostages, the attackers slit Father Hamel’s throat and seriously injured another parishioner.
Police ended the hostage situation by killing the attackers.
“This tragic event shared by others has brought me closer to the local society in its diverse components: naturally to the town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and then to the other municipalities in the area,” the archbishop said. “And from now on, I am bound to the Muslim community and to the other communities of believers in the territory of my diocese.”
Fr Hamel’s martyrdom drew the attention of Pope Francis who celebrated a memorial Mass for him on September 14, 2016, with Archbishop Lebrun, Roselyne Hamel, Father Hamel’s sister, and 80 pilgrims from the diocese.
When Archbishop Lebrun presented the Pope with a photo of Father Hamel, the Pope asked him to place it on the altar and after the Mass told the archbishop: “You can put this photo in the church because he is ‘blessed’ now, and if anyone says you aren’t allowed, tell them the Pope gave you permission”.