"These Christian communities are a priceless treasure for the church," Anderson said to the Knights attending the convention. "They have every right to live."

The Knights have actively sought to provide humanitarian aid to Christians in Iraq, as well as Syria and the surrounding areas, donating over $13 million. In June, Anderson joined Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-California, in speaking in a news conference to urge the Senate to pass legislation that would provide U.S. humanitarian aid to the Archdiocese of Irbil, after the House unanimously voted in favor of the bill.

Pope Francis commended the Knights for their work in the Middle East in a letter sent to the Knights at the convention from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The pope professed his "gratitude for the commitment of the Knights to supporting our Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East," according to the letter.

Pope Francis also described the Knights' relief fund as "an eloquent sign of your order's firm commitment to solidarity and communion with our fellow Christians."

In a news conference July 27, Secretary of State spokeswoman Heather Nauert reaffirmed the use of the word "genocide" to describe the situation of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.

"When we look at Iraq and we look at what has happened to some of the Yezidis, some of the Christians, the secretary (Rex Tillerson) believes, and he firmly believes, that that was genocide," Nauert said.

In March 2016, then-Secretary of State John Kerry first declared that that ISIS militants' actions in Iraq and Syria against minority Christian, Yezidi and Shiite Muslim groups was genocide.

The Knights of Columbus also will join the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for a "Week of Awareness" for persecuted Christians, which will begin Nov. 26 with a day of prayer for persecuted Christians.

In his annual report, Anderson urged each council of Knights to mark this day with "highest priority."

"Our work has truly changed history," Anderson said.

The work to rebuild Karamdes will begin the first week of August and any funds raised will go directly to the project.