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 tweeted, in French.

"The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father," tweeted, also in French.

Others left God out of their messages, but still offered their sympathies for the fallen priest, while denouncing the Islamic State's actions.