Social media users responded to the brutal execution of a French priest on Tuesday with an outpouring of support and prayer, as they called for peace in the wake of the latest brutal attack to hit France.
Several hashtags were circulating on Tuesday morning, in honour of father Jacques Hamel, 86, who was killed in a knife attack by two men at Saint Etienne Parish in Rouen, France. The two men involved in the attack were shot and killed by police. Another person was seriously injured and three individuals escaped the situation unharmed.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Many individuals offered their prayers for the slain priest on social media, using the hashtags #SaintEtienneDuRouvray, #Normandy and #JesuisPretre, which is French for "I'm a priest."
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," Twitter user @OBrother_op tweeted, in French.
"The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father," Herve Giraud tweeted, also in French.
Lord, save your people! Fr Jacques, holy martyr of God, pray for us. #JeSuisPrêtre pic.twitter.com/vkvvkXxZRT
— St Michael Livermore (@StMichael94550) July 26, 2016
#JeSuisPretre my heart and prayers to France once again. I pray and know God has welcomed him home into his loving arms..
— Chris Leonard (@realharleyparts) July 26, 2016
Pray for the souls of the faithful feparted, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.Amen #JeSuisPretre
— Courtney Green (@courtney2gs) July 26, 2016
#JeSuisPretre RIP Father.
— Denis Llamas (@LlamasDenis) July 26, 2016
#JeSuisPretre @CNN
— Fiore Antonio Freda (@Nywolfman1962) July 26, 2016
Rest in peace Father. Dear Lord please turn the cowardly violent hearts of the world into loving ones. We are all one.
#JeSuisPretre #JeSuisCatholique ✝
— PouletFriteAVolonte (@abdgfsl) July 26, 2016
#JeSuisPretre pic.twitter.com/HolWxkGCWZ
— P. Cédric BURGUN ن (@PereCedric) July 26, 2016
Others left God out of their messages, but still offered their sympathies for the fallen priest, while denouncing the Islamic State's actions.
Another day, another act of cowardice and barbarism. We mustn't let them win. Love to the people of #SaintEtienneDuRouvray.
— Laurence Hedges (@hedges_laurence) July 26, 2016
I share pain of people of #France, particularly Catholics who were victim of terrorism and barbarism in #SaintEtienneduRouvray church.
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) July 26, 2016
Churches, mosques & synagogues should be places of tranquility & sanctuary, not blood shed. Barbaric attack. #SaintEtienneDuRouvray
— Brent Davidson (@Brentus88) July 26, 2016