Pope Francis said Father Jacques Hamel, who was murdered by Islamic extremists at his church in northern France, was a martyr Giuseppe Ciccia/AlamyThe French priest murdered by Islamic extremists at his church in July has been placed on the path to sainthood by Pope Francis. Two 19-year-old men who had sworn allegiance to Isis ordered Father Jacques Hamel to kneel beside the altar before killing him Paroisse Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray/Getty ImagesIn a homily at the Vatican yesterday Francis repeatedly described Father Jacques Hamel as a “martyr”, suggesting that he was set for beatification, the first step towards sainthood in the Catholic Church. “He gave his life for us,” the pontiff said, adding that Father Hamel had told his assailants “Get out Satan!” He added: “We must pray to him, he is a martyr. And martyrs are beatified.”Two men burst into the church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray on July…

Source: The Times September 14, 2016 23:04 UTC