Church authorities attended the official ceremony of inauguration of the mosaic, alongside the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and numerous pilgrims.

Vatican City (27/10/2021 5:45 PM, Gaudium Press) The Vatican Gardens display one more Marian Mosaic: the ‘Virgen de los Ángeles,’ affectionately known by her devotees as ‘Negrita de los Ángeles.’

Inauguration Ceremony

The official inauguration ceremony of the mosaic representing the Patroness of Costa Rica was attended by Church authorities, the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See and numerous pilgrims who had come to Rome for the occasion.

Among the participants was the President of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, Bishop José Manuel Garita and the Costa Rican Ambassador to the Holy See, Federico Zamora Cordero.

The mosaic was created by artist Paula Sáenz, measuring 1.60 m. high by 1.30 m. wide. It was manufactured using original stones from the second Basilica of Cartago and from the place where the image was found in 1635. The mosaic includes stones from all the Dioceses of Costa Rica and various Costa Rican rivers, including unique natural tones.

History of the Virgen de los Ángeles

The devotion to the ‘Negrita de los Ángeles’ originated in 1635, when a young mestizo woman discovered the image of Our Lady on a rock. Every August 2, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, located in the city of Cartago, Costa Rica, attracts millions of pilgrims imploring the intercession of the Mother of God. Pope Saint John Paul II named her Patroness of Costa Rica and Protectress of the Americas. (EPC)

Compiled by Gustavo Kralj