Pope reacts to ‘killing’ of priest in France

“The pope... shares the pain and horror of this absurd violence,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said, adding that the attack created “immense pain and worry”. Francis issued “the most severe condemnation of all forms of hatred” and said he was appalled “because this horrific violence took place in a church, a sacred place” and involved the “barbaric” killing of a priest. 

Two attackers had seized hostages on Tuesday in a church near the Normandy city of Rouen, killing a priest by slitting his throat before being shot and killed by police, French officials said. Another person inside the church was seriously injured and is hovering between life and death, Interior Ministry spokesman said. 

France is currently on high alert after an attack in Nice on Bastille Day July 14 that killed 84 people and a string of deadly attacks last year claimed by the IS that killed 147 others. 

France is under a state of emergency and has extra police presence in the wake of the Nice attack in which a man barrelled his truck down the city’s famed Promenade des Anglais, mowing down holiday crowds.