"Many of these victims suffer and perish anonymously," said George Marlin, chairman of Aid to the Church in Need-USA, the charity sponsoring the service.

Montse Alvarado, CEO of the Washington-based Becket Fund, said she was not surprised by the overall results.

The pope also urged prayers for all those who endure persecution because of their faith today.

This is only the latest wave of Syrian refugees and internally displaced people from Iraq to seek safety in Iraqi-Kurdistan, which already hosts 38 camps. So far 12,000 Syrian civilians have taken refuge across the border.

In his election platform, Sajith Premadasa identified religious extremism, illegal drugs and corruption as three issues that require urgent attention.

Christianity is disappearing from towns and cities in parts of the Middle East, warns a new report from the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need.