Killing of Father Jacques Hamel by Isis followers stokes security fears for Pope Francis’ trip to Poland for World Youth Day

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The world is at war, but it is not a war of religions, Pope Francis has said following the murder of a priest in church in northern France.

Father Jacques Hamel, 86, was killed during Tuesday morning prayers by two followers of Islamic State, who entered the church in the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy and forced the priest to his knees before slitting his throat.

Speaking to reporters on the papal plane as he flew to Kraków, Poland, for a tour of central and eastern Europe, Francis said: “It’s war, we don’t have to be afraid to say this … a war of interests, for money, resources.

“I am not speaking of a war of religions. Religions don’t want war. The others want war,” the pontiff said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Picture of Father Jacques Hamel among floral tributes at a makeshift memorial at the Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray city hall. Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Hamel’s murder has added to security fears surrounding the pope’s visit to Poland for World Youth Day celebrations, which were already high due to a string of violent attacks in France and Germany. Polish officials say they have deployed tens of thousands of security officials to cover the event.

Churches across Europe have said they will remain open to all despite the murder. Anti-terrorism police have warned churches in the UK to be on alert, while saying they have no specific intelligence relating to attacks on Christians.

Bernard Longley, the Catholic archbishop of Birmingham, said that although there was always a need to be vigilant, church doors would remain open.

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“There is a need for vigilance and attentiveness wherever people gather together. We are alert, but not alarmed. Churches are places of sanctuary and in this [Jubilee] Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has emphasised that doors must remain open, to enable people to experience God’s mercy.

“Our greatest security lies in building upon the friendships which we already have between our faith communities and working together for unity and peace,” Longley said.

But Father Patrick Brennan, a Catholic priest in Birmingham, tweeted: “I think we are going to review our security in the presbytery and church over next few days. ‪#staysafe.” He declined to elaborate when contacted by the Guardian.



Fr. Patrick Brennan (@Pathound) I think we are going to review our security in the presbytery and church over next few days. #staysafe

In a statement, the Church of England said: “Church buildings are public buildings that are open to all. Where there are known risks, churches take measures to ensure the safety and security of worshippers and visitors.”



It welcomed the government’s announcement of a £2.4m fund for security measures at places of worship: “All public ministry involves being vulnerable to others, so security measures are good sense in uncertain times.”

In France on Wednesday, the president, François Hollande, met Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders at the Élysée Palace following Hamel’s killing.

Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, the archbishop of Paris, told journalists: “We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged into the politics of Daesh [Islamic State], which wants to set the children of the same family against each other.”



The chairman of France’s conference of religious faiths, the Protestant community leader François Clavairoly, said it was impossible to protect every place of worship in the country.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest The French president, François Hollande, hosted a meeting with religious leaders following Tuesday’s attack at a Normandy church. Photograph: Thomas Padilla/AP

“Everyone has to take responsibility, use best practice and keep an eye open,” he said.

But the Muslim leader Dalil Boubakeur, rector of Paris’s Grand Mosque, said religious leaders would like to see additional security. They “deeply desire that our places of worship are the subject of greater [security] focus, a sustained focus”, he said, according to the BBC.

The German bishops’ conference, representing Catholic bishops across the country, has said it continues to be committed to the concept of open churches.

“Our churches must be open places, something that has been made even clearer in the last few days,” a spokesman, Matthias Kopp, told German media on Wednesday. He added it would not be possible to protect 24,500 church buildings belonging to the Catholic church in Germany. “What is therefore required is an increased vigilance in daily life,” he added.

He insisted that the Catholic church took people’s fears seriously, “but at the same time we are appealing to people to not let this intimidate them”.



Following the attacks it had been brought home to many, he said, that “churches in particular are a place where people can mourn, including those who don’t belong to a church or a religion, but just need a place where they can light a candle.



“What would our country come to if the churches were closed and there was no room for people to express their grief?”



In the UK, there are an estimated 47,000 Christian churches, chapels and meeting houses. Increased security, such as checks, barriers or even CCTV cameras, could discourage casual worshippers at a time when churches are facing declining congregations.



Police wrote to churches after Tuesday’s attack in France to say they were working with church leaders in the UK “to establish a communication network through which reassurance and guidance to the Christian community” can be passed.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest A service at St Mary’s Church, Tenbury Wells. Church officials fear that increased security could discourage casual worshippers. Photograph: Karen Robinson/The Observer

It is believed churches have been advised to review when doors the public can use to enter places of worship need to be secured and when they can be left accessible.

“Church leaders and their congregations here in the UK should remain alert, not alarmed. There is no current intelligence to suggest any attack planning of this nature in this country,” said the Metropolitan police’s deputy assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, in the letter.

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“However, I know these are troubling times and it makes sense for all church leaders to review their security plans and to encourage their flock to be vigilant.”

Churches and other places of worship are classed as soft targets, usually unguarded, with little chance of having a police presence because there are so many of them.



Church officials need Christian places of worship to be open to the public to fulfil their religious purpose and essential mission, which makes them vulnerable. However, the increase of security at places of worship is far from unprecedented.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which advises the UK Jewish community on security, has spent more than £6m in recent years on training and equipment.



“We try to ensure physical security at all synagogues,” said the spokesman Mark Gardner. “We’ve been at this very hard for the past five years. Jews have long been among the priority targets for terrorists.”



In 2015, the CST installed 736 security cameras at Jewish buildings, 1,839 metres of perimeter fencing, 41 intruder alarm systems, 93 pedestrian or vehicle gates, and 43 anti-ram bollards. It uses a combination of commercial security guards, fully trained CST staff and volunteers, and local synagogue members who also receive training.