The pontiff told Maliki the continuing violence in Iraq strikes almost daily "without sparing Christian communities who strongly feel the need for greater security," the Vatican said.

The talks focused on continuing violence and on Iraqi refugees, inside and outside the country, who need assistance to return home, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The pope said he hoped ''Iraq may rediscover the path of peace and development" and "collaboration between all ethnic and religious groups" in order "to achieve the moral and civic reconstruction of the country.''