The World Council of Churches on Monday condemned a deadly attack on a church in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Sunday, calling it a "criminal act of terror", dpa reported.
Iraqi forces stormed the church after militants held dozens of worshippers as hostages. At least 52 people died, including the bishop, two priests and numerous congregants.
"The fellowship of the World Council of Churches is deeply troubled by the continuous suffering of Christians in Iraq," its general secretary, Olav Fykse Tveit, said in a statement. "All those responsible need to be brought to justice."
The council, a fellowship that works to promote Christian unity, encompasses some 350 churches across the world. Tveit made the remarks shortly before the start of a four-day Christian-Muslim conference at its headquarters in Geneva.