The Vatican on Saturday strongly condemned a terror attack that took place near the Italian consulate in downtown Cairo.

In a cable sent to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Vatican Prime Minister Archbishop Pietro Parolin stressed Vatican's support for Egypt in its fight against terrorism.

Parolin expressed condolences over the attack's victims, calling on all political and religious bodies to unite against terror.

Earlier in the day, a car bomb went off near the Italian consulate in downtown Cairo, killing one person and injuring nine others.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the early morning blast, which caused heavy damage to the consulate. It shook other buildings downtown and could be heard in several surrounding neighborhoods.