Pope’s trip to Poland overshadowed by killing of French priest

KRAKOW, Poland – Pope Francis will start his first trip to Poland on Wednesday to preside at an international Catholic youth jamboree, a usually joyous event that has been dampened by the murder of a Catholic priest in France.

 

News that suspected Islamist militants interrupted a church service in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, near Rouen, forced 85-year-old parish priest Father Jacques Hamel to his knees and slit his throat, sent a sudden deep chill over the World Youth Day event.

 

“We listened to the news with disbelief, we got phone calls from our parents who tried to reassure us,” said Guillaume from Bordeaux, a pilgrim in his early 20s.

 

Read More: Pope’s trip to Poland overshadowed by killing of French priest – Christian News – Jerusalem Post