MANILA - Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called for peace and calm amid outrage over President Rodrigo Duterte's latest tirades calling God "stupid."

• READ: ‘Totoo naman’: Duterte defends ‘stupid God’ remark

"Be at peace. Be calm. Don't let things disturb your inner peace. Let us read the situation with the eyes of the faith," the cardinal said in a letter addressed to priests from the Archdiocese of Manila.

Tagle, currently attending a United Nations Conference on Migrants and Refugees in Geneva co-sponsored by the Holy See, admitted he still did not have a "complete picture of the context" of Duterte's statements that hit the story of creation in the Bible.

But he reminded the faithful that questioning God and God's way is not new.

"It is as old as humanity and religions," Tagle said. "In the history of the Church, they have become moments for study, reflection, and clarification of doctrine."

The archbishop added that while discussions on faith and morality are important, these should not distract people from addressing other pressing concerns such as the rise in prices of goods, job security, terrorism, corruption, and other social issues.

"We cannot address these problems by just blaming someone. Those who believe in God must serve out of human decency, generosity and concern for neighbors," the prelate added.

Earlier, several Catholic bishops and other Christian churches condemned Duterte's latest statements against God.

• READ: Villegas amid Duterte's attacks: 'Bawal ang duwag pero huwag makipag-away'
• READ: Evangelical churches 'immensely offended' by Duterte's 'stupid God' remark

Malacañang on Tuesday announced that the President has formed a committee to hold a dialogue with Church leaders.

• READ: Duterte forms team to hold dialogue with Catholic Church

CBCP President Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, a friend of the Duterte family, said bishops are open to dialogue with the president.

• READ: After Duterte's 'stupid God' remark, CBCP says open to dialogue

On Wednesday, Duterte's daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said the public should not listen to the President's thoughts about religious texts and only mind his statements pertaining to his job.

• Sara Duterte: Don't listen to my father's interpretation of the Bible, Quran