Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in June, about 7,000 mostly poor people have died in police raids and killings carried out by unknown assailants.

"They're thirsty for the blood of any Christian," Wafaa Fawzy said.

Representatives of al-Azhar and the Vatican outlined steps to fight terrorism and terrorist organizations.

As civil strife threatens greater disorder, a famine looms in South Sudan; Pope Francis urges intervention.

Pope Francis: “war begins in the heart of a person; it begins at home, in the family, among friends and then goes out into the whole world.”

Bishop Cantu's letter comes as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson begins his time as the chief foreign affairs adviser to President Donald Trump.