Pope Francis asked to declare French church terror victim martyr and saint as new details emerge about attack

Fr. Jacques died practicing his faith.

We now know more about what happened during the ISIS attack on a Catholic church yesterday in France. The attackers killed a priest and were shot dead by police.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Two young men affiliated with ISIS stormed a Catholic church yesterday in France. Armed with knives, they forced the priest, Fr. Jacques Hamel, 84, to kneel while they slit his throat.

They took four other people hostage. But one nun managed to escape and alert police.

One of the nuns who was held hostage was Sister Danielle, and she was at morning Mass at 9:45am when Adel Kermiche, 19 entered the church with an accomplice to do evil.

In an interview with the BBC, Sister Danielle told what went through her mind. She thought, "well, that's it. It's over... they were so motivated."

The attackers said, "you Christians, you kill us."

Sister Danielle told how they made Fr. Jacques kneel and told him not to move. They preached a sermon, then murdered Fr. Jacques before everyone.

Sister Danielle remarked that "Fr. Jacques loved all people regardless of religion. That's all I can say. A faithful priest, a priest who loved everybody very much."

In addition to Sister Danielle, the terrorists also took two other nuns and two parishioners hostage.

The terrorists later decided to run outside and confronted police with their knives, shouting "Allahu Akbar." They were promptly shot dead.

We know one of the attackers, Adel Kermiche was arrested twice before for attempting to join ISIS. One one occasion he made it as far as Turkey before he was caught. He was sent to jail for a short time, then released on probation. He was monitored but allowed to leave his house between 8:30am and 12:30pm.

The lenient terms of his probation have sparked controversy in France.

The other attacker's identity has not been revealed, but a third person was arrested in connection with the attack. That person has been identified only as "HB" and is just 16 years old.

A petition has immediately begun to circulate online calling on Pope Francis to declare Fr. Jacques a martyr and a saint. Pope Francis has expressed shock and horror, particularly because the attack took place in a "sacred place."

It is very likely Pope Francis will order an investigation into the circumstances. If Fr. Jacques did indeed die for the faith, he will be hailed as a martyr.

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