A special Mass was held at the Roman Catholic Church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, France, on Sunday to mark its reopening following the murder of 85-year-old priest Jacques Hamel there earlier this year.
Fr Hamel was killed by Islamic extremists, who claimed to be followers of the so-called Islamic State, in the church while saying Mass on 26th July. Both of his attackers were killed by police at the scene.
The special Mass on the weekend was led by Rouen Archbishop Dominique Lebrun. A photograph of the murdered priest which had been signed by Pope Francis was placed on the altar before the Mass on the Pope’s instructions and the ceremony was beamed to big screens in the town square.
The BBC said the town’s mayor Hubert Wulfranc hoped to erect a monument in memory of Fr Hamel in the community. “This is a new stage of healing, of convalescence,” they quoted him as saying of the service.
