The Holy See Press Office makes known that on the morning of Wednesday, 2 September 2026, Pope Leo XIV had a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella. It is the first direct contact between the Pontiff and the Colombian Head of State since the latter took office on 7 August. The conversation focused on the emergency caused by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the south-central regions of the country on 10 August, causing hundreds of deaths, thousands of injured and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. The Holy Father reiterated his solidarity with all those suffering the harsh consequences of the earthquake, with a particular thought for the families of the victims, the injured, the rescue teams and humanitarian workers. The call also touched on the general situation of the country and of the affected areas; the President renewed his invitation for the Pope to visit Colombia.