ICC Note: As previously reported, French priest Jacques Hamel was murdered in July when extremists stormed a mass service and slit his throat. According to reports, attendance at mass has increased in the community since the attack. Although the local archbishop says that the Christian community is still living with fear due to the murder, they are finding strength and solidarity within the church.

By Harry Farley

09/15/2016 France (Christian Today) – The number of people attending mass in the area where Father Jacques Hamel was murdered has increased since his death, said the Archbishop of Rouen.

The Catholic priest whose throat was slit as he celebrated mass on July 26 was declared a “martyr” by Pope Francis on Wednesday, strongly implying he will one day become a saint. Archbishop Dominique Lebrun, who oversees the small town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray where Fr Hamel was killed, said fear had spread throughout France after the attack.

But he added mass attendance had gone up since the two young men who claimed allegiance to ISIS stormed into the service and killed the priest.

“There is fear [in France], without a doubt,” he said after a meeting with Pope Francis on Wednesday.

“A week ago, I met with the vicars of the diocese and everyone told me that some people phoned asking if there was mass, if they could go, if there [was] a risk.

“At the same time, more people are at mass. On a psychological level, there is fear, but on a deep level in the soul, there is strength.”

The Archbishop celebrated mass with the Pope and around 80 Catholics from Rouen who had made the trip to Rome. Francis delivered a direct homily where he repeatedly said Hamel had been martyred.

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