Published on Thursday, October 30, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

President Laura Fernández-Delgado invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Costa Rica next year during a meeting with the pontiff Thursday at the Vatican, the Presidential House announced.

According to the official statement, Fernández invited the pope to visit the country and participate in special events marking the 203rd anniversary of the declaration of Our Lady of the Angels (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles), affectionately known as "La Negrita," Costa Rica's patron saint. The celebrations will also mark the 180th anniversary of the establishment of Catholicism as the country's official state religion.

La Negrita Day is an annual religious holiday observed every Aug. 2. It is one of Costa Rica's largest religious and cultural events, attracting nearly 2 million worshippers from across the country and abroad.

During her audience with the pope, Fernández presented him with several gifts on behalf of the Costa Rican people.

They included a letter formally inviting him to visit the country, a replica of the Virgin of the Angels statue and several varieties of coffee produced by Costa Rican growers.

 

The invitation was formally documented in a letter that Fernández personally handed to the pontiff. In the letter, the president emphasized that the religious leader's visit next year would have a significant impact if it takes place.


The last papal visit to Costa Rica took place in March 1983, when Pope John Paul II visited the country.


Fernández also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state.


In addition, she met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome.


"During the meeting, both leaders discussed opportunities for cooperation between their police forces in combating narcoterrorism and financial crime, as well as strengthening intelligence capabilities," the Presidential House said in its statement.

Fernández's agenda also includes a trip to Spain to attend the 30th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled for Nov. 4-5 in Madrid.

The summit will focus on sustainable growth, digitalization, energy security, educational and cultural cooperation, and global geopolitical coordination.

Fernández is traveling with her husband, Jeffrey Umaña-Avendaño; Communications Minister Arnold Zamora; and Ana Elena Pinto of the Ministry of International Affairs.

This is Fernández’s third international trip since she assumed Costa Rica’s presidency in May.

Earlier this month, Fernández visited El Salvador, where she signed an agreement with Salvadoran President Nayib Armando Bukele-Ortez to implement a “tough-on-crime” strategy.

The agreement calls for Costa Rica to study and adopt strategies used in El Salvador’s fight against crime. These include greater coordination among police agencies, improved intelligence gathering to combat drug trafficking, increased surveillance of seaports and airports, and cooperation with the United States and El Salvador.

In September, Fernández traveled to Colombia to meet with Colombian President Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella-Otero.

During the high-level meeting, the two leaders agreed to pursue a hard-line approach toward illegal groups, including those described as “narco-terrorists,” in their respective countries and to cooperate in the fight against criminal organizations.

Fernández and her delegation are expected to return to Costa Rica on Friday, Nov. 6.
 

During the president’s absence, First Vice President Francisco Gamboa-Soto will be in charge of the government.

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