Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis has met with the brother of a Scottish Aid worker murdered by Islamic State militants.

Mike Haines, brother of David Haines, attended the Pope’s general audience in St Peter’s Square and spoke with the Holy Father afterwards. David, who was born in Yorkshire but raised in Perth, was kidnapped in Syria in 2013. The Islamic State released a video in September last year appearing to show his execution.

His bother has since worked to promote inter-faith tolerance and unity against extremism.

Along with Barbara Henning, the widow of Alan Henning, another murdered hostage, Mr Haines has written a letter calling for ‘the unity of people of all the faiths in our society’ and urging ‘churches, mosques and synagogues to open their doors and welcome people of all faiths.’

Following his meeting with the Pope, Mr Haines told The Associated Press that the encounter took his breath away, adding that the Pope ‘said he was going to pray for me to continue the work that we’re doing on unity and tolerance and bringing our communities together.’

Speaking before the meeting, Nigel Baker, the British Ambassador to the Holy See, said Mike Haines would be bringing to the Vatican a message of inter-religious understanding.

“Pope Francis has called for a common commitment to end fighting, hatred and violence,” he said. “Mike Haines is living that commitment in an extraordinary way.”