'Virgen de los Angeles' News: Pope Francis Confirms Statue of 'La Negrita,' Patron Saint of Costa Rica, To Be Enthroned Inside Vatican

Pope Francis has confirmed that an image of the 'Virgen de los Angeles' or the 'Virgin of Angels,' the patron saint of Costa Rica, will be enthroned inside the Vatican. The idea of enthroning the Costa Rican virgin was initiated by Costa Rican president Laura Chinchilla during a meeting between the two leaders last year in Rome. The Costa Rican ambassador to the Vatican, Fernando Sánchez Campos, told La Nation that the ceremony to enthrone 'la negrita' will take place on the 26th of Aprli at 9 AM.

Sanchez explained that the image will be placed inside a marble altar in the Church of Saint Anne, the only parish in the Vatican that has street access, meaning that it will not be necessary for visitors wishing to pay their respects to the statue will not need to go through Vatican security to see the Virgin. The ambassador also revealed that the ceremony will be attended by Bishop José Francisco Ulloa, the Archbishop of San José, José Rafael Quirós and the Archbishop Emeritus, Hugo Barrantes.

The small statue of the Virgen de los Ángeles is already in Rome, temporarily located in the Embassy of Costa Rica until the enthroning ceremony. The image is plated in gold and silver and was made by cartaginian artists in Soto del Vall: its transportation to Rome was undertaken by Archbishop Jose Rafael Quirós. "This is great gift that the Holy See has given the Costa Rican faithful is proof of the excellent bilateral relations between both states and shows the appreciation the Vatican has for our country," said the ambassador.