IS Victim's Brother Meets Pope

The brother of a British aid worker killed after being held captive by extremists has had a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican. Mike Haines, whose 44-year-old brother David was slain last year by the Islamic State terror group, met Pope Francis following the pontiff's weekly general audience at St Peter's Square. Since his brother's murder in September, Mr Haines has dedicated his time to spreading a message of tolerance among all faiths, coming together to unite against extremism - a message he shared with the Pope. Speaking ahead of the meeting, the British Ambassador to the Holy See Nigel Baker said: Mike Haines will be bringing to the Vatican his message of inter-religious understanding. Pope Francis has called for a common commitment to end fighting, hatred and violence. Mike Haines is living that commitment in an extraordinary way.'' An imam from east London, Shahnawaz Haque, accompanied Mr Haines at the audience. In October last year, Mr Haines signed a joint letter with Barbara Henning, the widow of Alan Henning who was also murdered by Isil last year, calling forunity of people of all faiths in our society'' and urging churches, mosques, synagogues to open their doors and welcome people of all faiths''. David Haines, from Perth, was beheaded after being taken hostage in Syria in March 2013 while working for international relief agency Acted. The father-of-two had been been helping refugees in a camp near the Turkish border when he was snatched by militants.