Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni told journalists that “in an informal context, the pope wished to say that he always considers criticisms as an honor, particularly when they come from authoritative thinkers, and in this case from an important nation.”

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” we update you on who Pope Francis has chosen to make cardinals next month, and why the Bolsonaro government is nervous about the Synod on the Amazon.

When Pope Francis arrives in Mozambique on Sept. 4 he is going to a country that he already knows much about from his time as archbishop of Buenos Aires, the Rev. Juan Gabriel Arias, 50, told America on the eve of the papal visit.

Pope Francis returns to sub-Saharan Africa for the second time on Sept. 4 to Sept. 10 to visit the Republics of Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.

"Thank God the firefighters intervened," Francis said, referring to tiny Vatican City State's own fire department.

Pope Francis said that the forthcoming United Nations Climate Action Summit “is of particular importance.”