QCOSTARICA – Pope Francis got on Friday first hand experience of “tico time” from none other than President Luis Guillermo Solis, arriving 20 minutes late for his scheduled meeting at the Vatican.
Solis blamed his tardiness on a “misunderstanding between the Vatican and the Costa Rica delegation”, accelerating the protocol, leaving only 20 minutes of conversation time between the Pope and the President.
The subjects touched during their talk were the issues of migration, abortion and drug trafficking.
On abortion, a number of legislators had already written the Pope of the Solis administration “possible changes” to legislation. In Costa Rica, abortion is allowed only when the life of the mother is in danger.
The Vatican press office also said that during the meeting mentioned was “the good relations between the Holy See and Costa Rica and appreciation was expressed for the contribution offered by the Church in education, health, promotion of human and spiritual rights and in charitable activities.”
Solis said on the social media to having “many views in common with Pope Francis” and “he felt of the Pope like an old friend I had not seen for many years”.
The president said he left the Vatican very satisfied, recognizing that it was a “very warm” meeting and which, he added, “had an air of a very close relationship, because there is a common language and a regional spirit that embraces us.”
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Solis took the opportunity to invite Pope Francis to visit Costa Rica, telling the pontiff, “I would be very honoreud if you visit”.
“My heart will wait for you, but every country in the world wants to have the pope as guest. Nothing would please me more than in the framework of you international agenda you can make some room for Costa Rica and Central America,” he wished.
Photos by Presidencia of President Luis Guillermo Solis, with his his common-law wife, Mercedes Peñas and their daughter Inés, visit with Pope Francis as the Vatican.
