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.”

10 of the 13 new cardinals will be eligible to vote in the next conclave, including Jesuit Father Michael Czerny, who oversees the Vatican department for migrants and refugees.

Describing the Amazon rainforest as "vital for our planet," Pope Francis joined the regions bishops in praying for action to extinguish the massive fires burning there.

"'Look, Lord, I belonged to this association; I was a friend of that bishop, of that cardinal, of that priest.' No, titles do not count; they do not count."