Pope Francis: ‘killing in the name of God is satanic’

Last updated on: September 14, 2016 at 8:09 am by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: ‘killing in the name of God is satanic’ 2016-09-14T08:09:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Sep 14, 2016 / 02:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Referencing the recent murder of French priest Fr. Jacques Hamel, Pope Francis said the persecution of Christians happening today, under any form, is a work of Satan.

“This cruelty that asks for apostasy, let’s say the word, is satanic,” the Pope said in a homily Sept. 14.

“Today in the church there are more Christian martyrs than in the first times. Today there are Christians who are assassinated, tortured, jailed, their throats are cut because they don’t deny Jesus Christ,” Francis stated.

Pope Francis' comments were made during an early morning Mass celebrated in memory of Fr. Jacques Hamel at Casa Santa Marta Wednesday.

Fr. Hamel, 85, was killed July 26 in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of Rouen, while saying Mass. The assailants, who were armed with knives, declared their allegiance to the Islamic State, and were later shot dead by police.

“To the first Christians, apostasy was proposed – that is, say that our god is the true one, not yours. Make a sacrifice to our god, or our gods. And when they didn’t do this, when they refused apostasy, they were killed. This is repeated today,” the Pope said.

“How much we would like that all of the religions would say that killing in the name of God is satanic.”

Pope Francis called Fr. Hamel one of the newest martyrs in what is a new wave of Christian persecution happening around the world, saying that the priest accepted his own martyrdom with Christ “on the cross.”

On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, celebrated by the Church on Sept. 14 every year, Pope Francis talked about how Christ gave himself on the cross as a martyr for the salvation of humanity.

“Jesus Christ was the first martyr, the first that gave his life for us. And from this mystery of Christ comes all the history of Christian martyrdom,” he said.

Even in the difficult moment of his death, Fr. Hamel, Francis said, saw who his assassin was and he said clearly, “'Be gone, Satan!'”

Like the first Christian martyrs, Fr. Hamel “gave his life for us and he gave his life for not denying Christ. He gave it in the very sacrifice of Jesus on the altar,” the Pope said.

Among those present at the Sept. 14 Mass were the Archbishop of Rouen Dominique Lebrun, the sister of Fr. Hamel, and other pilgrims from Rouen. Several Cardinals, including French Cardinal Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, were also present.

The altar held a photograph of Fr. Hamel and a bouquet of pink roses.

“He was a good, meek man, (a man) of fraternity who always sought to make peace. He was assassinated as if he were a criminal,” Pope Francis continued.

Fr. Hamel's example helps all of us “to go forward without fear,” he said.

“May he from Heaven – and we should pray to him, eh, he’s a martyr!” the Pope said, “we have to pray to him that he give us the meekness, fraternity, peace, and also the courage to say the truth: To kill in the name of God is Satanic.”

Vatican

Previous Post

September 14, 2016

Catholic school says it can't meet demands of transgendered student

Next Post

September 14, 2016 Catholics for Choice 'woefully' misrepresent Church teaching

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus turn over in the temple?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lamps Statues Scrolls Tables