Father Hamel is a 'martyr', pope (2)

(ANSA) - Vatican City, September 14 - Pope Francis said Wednesday that slain French priest, Father Jacques Hamel, is a ''martyr'', possibly indicating he could be on the way to sainthood. Speaking at a Mass at the Vatican to commemorate the priest, who was murdered on July 26 while saying mass at his church near Rouen by two Islamist extremists, the pontiff said Father Hamel ''is a martyr and martyrs are blessed''.
    In his sermon, Francis urged all people of faith to pray to Hamel ''to give us mildness, brotherhood, peace'' as well as ''the courage to tell the truth: killing in the name of God is satanic''.
    The pontiff spoke at a special Mass for Father Hamel's family and some 80 pilgrims from the Rouen area of France where two Islamist militants stormed into the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, forced the 85-year-old priest to his knees and slit his throat, chanting in Arabic.