Islamist knifemen forced priest, 84, to kneel and filmed his death as they slit his throat: Hollande says 'France is at war with ISIS' after jihadists storm French church during Mass chanting 'Allahu Akbar'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3708394/Two-men-armed-knives-people-hostage-French-church.html
Two ISIS knifemen who stormed a church in Normandy forced an elderly priest to kneel before filming themselves butchering him and performing a 'sermon in Arabic' at the altar, a terrified witness has revealed.
The attackers, claimed as 'soldiers' by ISIS, were both known to French police before they cut the throat of 84-year-old priest Jacques Hamel at the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen.
Both were shot dead by police marksmen as they emerged from the building shouting 'Allahu Akbar' following the attack that also left a nun critically injured.
French President Francois Hollande, who visited the scene today, said the country is now 'at war' with ISIS after the terror group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Father Jacques Hamel: 'A good priest … who did his job to the very end'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/26/father-jacques-hamel-normandy-france-a-good-priest-who-did-his-job-to-the-very-end
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36898130
Father Hamel was born in 1930 in Darnétal, Seine-Maritime. He was ordained in 1958 and celebrated his golden jubilee - 50 years of priesthood - in 2008, according to the parish website.
Father Aime Remi Mputu Amba, the dean of another local church, described him as a man of "great discretion and great attention" who brought a "ray of sunshine" to meetings.
Speaking to Le Figaro, Father Mputu Amba said: "Despite his advanced age he was still invested in the life of the parish. I often told him, jokingly, 'Jacques, you are getting on a bit, it's time to take your pension.' To which he replied, laughing, 'Have you ever seen a retired pastor? I will work until my last breath.'"
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3708394/Two-men-armed-knives-people-hostage-French-church.html
Pope Francis shares 'pain and horror' of 'absurd violence' as he condemns 'all forms of hatred' following ISIS murder of French Catholic priest
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3709420/Pope-Francis-shares-pain-horror-absurd-violence-condemns-forms-hatred-following-ISIS-murder-French-Catholic-priest.html
Pope Francis has expressed his 'pain and horror' following the brutal slaying of a French Catholic priest at the hands of two ISIS 'soldiers'.
The Pontiff emphasised his condemnation of 'every form of hatred' and offered his prayers to those involved.
Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi issued a statement on the Pope's behalf after two ISIS knifemen stormed a church in Normandy this morning.
He added that the Pope was particularly appalled by the 'barbaric killing' because it happened in a sacred place.
He went on to describe the attack as another act of 'absurd violence'.