French bishops have marked this Friday as a day of fasting after a horrific attack on a church by Islamic State militants led to the death of Father Jacques Hamel.
Condemning the incident, which follows a strings of attacks by ISIS across the West, Msgr. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, secretary general of the French Bishops Conference said, "What happened in France had happened in other countries before, and actually we see Christians laying down their lives in the interests of their faith."
"They die because they are objects of hate and this for a fact gives us an additional motivation to live the life of fraternity we are called to," he added while speaking to the media during World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.
On Tuesday, militants carrying knives entered Sainte Therese church and forced 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel, who was leading prayers, to his knees before slitting his throat before the congregation.
The assailants took four others hostage before they were shot dead by the police. The terrorists also grievously injured one of the hostages.
With the commencement of World Youth Day, which he believes should go forward with greater intensity, Msgr. Dumas called on believers to see the "horizon of peace, of joy, brotherhood and prayer."
"We are rooted in our faith and in Christ and we believe that evil and violence will not have the upper hand," he stated, while stressing the important of the church to foster dialogue among different people.
The Vatican in a statement also condemned the attack, stating that it was especially moving because it took place inside the church. Pope Francis denounced the "absurd violence," blaming a war caused domination of peoples and economic interests, not religion.
"There is a war of interests. There is a war for money. There is a war for natural resources. There is a war for domination of peoples. This is the war," he told reporters. "All religions want peace. Others want war."