Victor R. Claveau, MJ
The Catholic Church had nothing to do with the St. Bartholomew Day massacre of the Huguenots. Charles IX (1560-74), at the instigation of his mother (Catherine de Medicis), assassinated Admiral Coligny, the leader of the Huguenots, who were political opponents of the king. This happened on August 24, 1572, and was followed by a general massacre in many of the towns and cities of France. The Huguenots were killed because they were a constant danger to the king, not because they were Protestants. After the massacre the King informed the Pope that he had escaped from a terrible conspiracy, and the Pope not knowing the real facts (considering the slow transmission of news in those days), ordered a Te Deum[1] to be sung. Later, however, when the Pope heard the true facts of the massacre, he wept and condemned the course the King had taken.
[1] The name of a psalm-like hymn sung as thanksgiving on occasions of public rejoicing, whether religious or secular.