With a heavy heart I heard the news of the killing of a priest in France during morning Mass today.
The Archbishop of Rouen, Dominque Lebrun, released this statement (translated by a friend from French):
From Krakow, I have learned about the killings this morning in the Church of Saint-Etienne du Rouvray. There were three victims: the priest (84 yrs old) Fr Jacques Hamel and the two authors of the assassination. Three other people were injured – one of them very seriously. I call out to God, with all people of good will. I dare to invite non-believers to unite in this call! With the youth of the World Youth Days, we pray in the same manner as we prayed around the tomb of Father Popiełuszko in Warsaw – assassinated under the communist regime.
The Vicar General, Fr Philippe Maheut arrived at the scene very soon after this incident. This evening I will be in my diocese around the families and the parish community who are all very shocked. The only weapons which the Catholic Church can take up are prayer and fraternity among peoples. I return home leaving hundreds of young people who are the future of humanity, the truth. I ask them not to give up in the face of violence but to become apostles of the civilization of love.
I write from Krakow, as World Youth Day begins – Pope Francis arrives tomorrow.
Few things could be more sobering and focusing as I walk into a Theology on Tap event tonight with Archbishop William E. Lori, the U.S. Catholic bishops’ point man on religious liberty and a panel on religious persecution tomorrow with Archbishop Warda from Iraq, Archbishop Lori, George Weigel, and others.
While many radio interviewers and others ask me about fear here I see mostly joy and even peace from young people – some 2.5 million are expected. They radiate an alternative lifestyle, one that could be that attractive, compelling one the world needs about now.
Priest Killed During Mass in France, World Youth Day