No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaPope Francis Receives Symbolic Environmental Gift from Costa Rica

Pope Francis Receives Symbolic Environmental Gift from Costa Rica

During his flight to Indonesia, Pope Francis greeted journalists and received several gifts, including a glove from a young Costa Rican Catholic who has been dedicated to cleaning and collecting garbage from the country’s beaches, contributing significantly to environmental conservation.

Eva Fernández, a journalist from Spain’s COPE network, presented the gift to Pope Francis. She explained that the glove was intended to remind the Pope of Costa Rica’s commitment to environmental protection, particularly as he prepares to visit countries where plastic pollution in the waters is a major issue.

“When our team considered sending the Pope a gesture related to nature conservation and the biodiversity that characterizes our country, we decided on a glove from a volunteer—one of the many who clean rivers and beaches in Costa Rica. We placed it in a small wooden box, accompanied by some of the garbage collected from the beaches as a symbolic gesture, with Costa Rican artist Paula Sáenz painting the sea and overseeing the final touches,” said Lisandra Chaves, Executive Secretary of Communication for the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica.

The glove was donated by Fabián Leandro, representing the many Costa Rican volunteers dedicated to preserving the environment, particularly through beach and river cleanups. The gift was accompanied by an explanation highlighting Costa Rica’s marine richness.

A Glove for the Blue Jewel

Costa Rica is a marine-rich country, with 51,030 km² of land and 572,877 km² of marine area, meaning 92% of the nation is sea. Beneath these waters lie several seamounts and the longest volcanic mountain range in the country, the Cordillera Submarina del Coco, which extends approximately 800 km. Costa Rica boasts the highest density of biodiversity in the world.

Costa Rica’s marine area borders four countries: Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia. The region is home to 3.5% of the world’s marine biodiversity, with 6,700 marine species identified, 90 of which are endemic, making it a precious “blue jewel.”

The oceans are a critical source of food, producing more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe and capturing 30% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced over the last 200 years.

Thousands of volunteers in Costa Rica regularly participate in cleanup efforts across different parts of the country, including the North Pacific, Central Valley, Central Pacific, and Caribbean regions. Many local organizations and companies unite to combat single-use plastic pollution on beaches, rivers, parks, and ultimately, the oceans surrounding Costa Rica.

During these cleanup efforts, more than 20 tons of waste can be collected. The initiative also aims to raise awareness about plastic use and disposal.

This work glove belonged to one of those thousands of volunteers, Fabián Leandro, a young Catholic who used it to clean and collect garbage from Costa Rican beaches.

Costa Rica has a significant number of volunteers dedicated to cleaning up garbage from rivers and beaches. It is estimated that only 19.9% of discarded plastic is recycled, and by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans. This glove symbolizes all the people dedicated to caring for the environment, working to preserve Costa Rica’s natural treasures, and preventing further contamination of our seas.

Trending Now

Panama Denounces New U.S. Pressure Over Chinese Companies

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday accused the United States of pressuring Panamanian officials to reduce the presence of Chinese companies in the...

Costa Rica’s Blue Carpet event unites Leaders for Ocean Innovation and Tourism

On Friday, the Costa Rican Fishing Federation (FECOP) held the second edition of La Alfombra Azul, an event created to celebrate innovation, science, and...

Costa Rica National Stadium Renamed INS Estadio in Historic Deal

The National Stadium, a key landmark in La Sabana Metropolitan Park, now carries a new title after a sponsorship agreement. Yesterday, the venue officially...

Costa Rica Targets June 2026 for New High-Security Prison

Costa Rica faces a sharp increase in homicides tied to drug trafficking, putting heavy strain on its prisons. In response, the government has moved...

Starbucks Honors Costa Rica’s Coffee Roots in October Festivities

Coffee runs deep in our veins, a tradition that started in the 1700s and shapes our country's economy and culture today. This October, Starbucks...

Guatemala Backlash Grows after Escape of Imprisoned Gang Members

The escape of 20 “high-risk” gang members from a prison has sparked a political crisis in Guatemala, with criticism of President Bernardo Arévalo and...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica