Pope declares Mother Teresa a saint


Vatican City, Sep 4 (AFP): Mother Teresa, the nun whose work with the dying and destitute of Kolkata made her a global icon of Christian charity, was made a saint today.

Her elevation to Roman Catholicism's celestial pantheon came in a canonisation mass in St Peter's square in the Vatican that was presided over by Pope Francis in the presence of 100,000 pilgrims.

"For the honour of the Blessed Trinity... we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata) to be a Saint and we enroll her among the Saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church," the pontiff said in Latin.


In Kolkata at Saint's Convent

The ceremony came a day before the 19th anniversary of Teresa's death in Kolkata, the Indian city where she spent nearly four decades tending to the poorest of the poor.

With the 16th century basilica of St Peter's and an azure sky providing the backdrop, the faithful basked in the late summer sun as Francis presided over a ritual mass that has barely changed for centuries.

Such was the demand from pilgrims, the Vatican could easily have issued double the number of tickets but for space and security restrictions.

Helicopters had earlier buzzed over the headquarters of the Roman Catholic church, testifying to the huge but relatively discreet security operation under way. Some 3,000 officers were on duty to ensure the day passed off peacefully.

Among the assembled crowd were some 1,500 poor people looked after by the Italian branches of Teresa's order, the Missionaries of Charity.

After the mass they were to be Francis's guests at the Vatican for a giant pizza lunch served by 250 sisters and 50 male members of the order.

Teresa spent all her adult life in India, first teaching, then tending to the dying poor.

It was in the latter role, at the head of her now worldwide order that Teresa became one of the most famous women on the planet.

Born to Kosovan Albanian parents in Skopje - then part of the Ottoman empire, now the capital of Macedonia - she won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize and was revered around the world as a beacon for the Christian values of self-sacrifice and charity.

But she was also regarded with scorn by secular critics who accused her of being more concerned with evangelism than with improving the lot of the poor.

The debate over the nun's legacy has continued after her death, with researchers uncovering financial irregularities in the running of her order and evidence mounting of patient neglect, insalubrious conditions and questionable conversions of the vulnerable in her missions.

Sceptics were absent from the Vatican today however as Francis prepared to pay homage to a woman he sees as the embodiment of his vision of a "poor church for the poor".

By historical standards, Teresa has been fast-tracked to sainthood, thanks largely to one of the few people to have achieved canonisation faster, John Paul II.

The Polish cleric was a personal friend of Teresa and as the pope at the time of her death, he was responsible for her being beatified in 2003.

Achieving sainthood requires the Vatican to approve accounts of two miracles occurring as a result of prayers for Teresa's intercession.

The first one, ratified in 2002, was of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, who says she recovered from ovarian cancer a year after Teresa's death - something local health officials have put down to medical advances rather than the power of prayer.

In the second, approved last year, Brazilian Marcilio Haddad Andrino says his wife's prayers to Teresa led to brain tumours disappearing. Eight years later, Andrino and his wife Fernanda were in the congregation on Sunday.

Also in the crowd at St Peter's was Teresa Burley, an Italy-based American teacher of children with learning difficulties who says the new saint inspired her vocation.

"I'm also named Teresa," she told AFP. "I remember growing up admiring the things she did for children and the poor.

"We need to remember we are here to help each other. We need to be here for those who can't help themselves. It's the same for refugees arriving here: we have to be there to help them transition into their new lives."

Many Indians have made the trip to Rome, among them Kiran Kakumanu, 40, who was blessed by Teresa when he was a baby and grew up to become a priest.

Abraham, an Indian expatriate in London, said Teresa's life had set a unique example to the world.

"She practised Christianity. The majority of Christians only spend their time talking about it."

 

Earlier news

Thousands arrive in Vatican for Mother Teresa's canonisation

Vatican City, Sep 4 (IANS) : Tens of thousands of people flocked to Vatican City's St Peter's Square on Sunday to watch Pope Francis declare Mother Teresa a saint.

Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass and Canonisation on Sunday on the eve of Mother Teresa's 19th death anniversary. She died on September 5, 1997, the BBC reported.

Many pilgrims arrived at the Vatican before dawn on Sunday to get a good spot for the Mass, BBC reported.

Some 1,500 homeless people across Italy were also brought to Rome in buses to be given seats of honour at the celebration - and then a pizza lunch served by 250 nuns and priests of the Sisters of Charity order.

In 2002, the Vatican ruled that an Indian woman's stomach tumour had been miraculously cured after prayers to Mother Teresa.

Pope Francis cleared the way for sainthood last year when he recognised a second miracle attributed to her.

She died in 1997 - aged 87 - and was beatified in 2003, the first step to sainthood.

She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The sisterhood now has 4,500 nuns worldwide.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Thomas, Mangalore

    Wed, Sep 07 2016

    St. Mother Teresa, pray for my family.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ignace Kullu, Mangalore

    Tue, Sep 06 2016

    Sir(s),

    There was a brief telecast about a Brazilian engineer who had brain tumor and went in to comma and as the doctor prepared for surgery their family prayed to Saint Teresa as they were not sure of survival, very next moment engineer woke up and asked about the doctors what is going on around him… That was the second testimony

    DisAgree [3] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Melwin D'Souza, Balkudru/Mumbai

    Tue, Sep 06 2016

    St. Mother Teresa..Pray for us

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues., Frazer Town,Bangalore

    Mon, Sep 05 2016

    As we all expected,Mother Theresa has become a saint.St.Mother Theresa,please pray for us

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Dubai/Mundkur

    Mon, Sep 05 2016

    For Indians she was already a saint ever since people started to call her as a “Mother”…. Many people say many thinks regarding “Dharma” she followed in her charity organizations but “Seva Dharma” is always above of all other “Dharma” whatever we follow in our life

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jaimini P.B., Manipal,Sharjah

    Mon, Sep 05 2016

    Some of the very important Quotes from Mother Teresa

    Mother Says ...

    1.I can do things you can't..You can do things I can't..Together we can do great things

    2.If you are not able to feed 100 people,then feed ONE.

    3.Never worry about numbers.Help one person at a time and always start with person nearest you.

    4.It is not the magnitude of our actions,but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.

    5.When a poor person dies of hunger,it has not happened because of God did not take care of him or her.It has happened because of us.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.

    Wed, Sep 07 2016

    Great writing touching a spiritual and social issue to change the world to be a better society.

    If we take even only one statement of Saint Teresa " If you are not able to feed 100 people, feed one", what kind of a great revolution of love it can create?

    If everybody will watch there mere waste of wealth and food, they can help so many suffering people of the society across us.

    I do remember this great lesson of life years back experienced. When we went to Tinnevelli for some marriage clothing shopping, stopped in a vegetarian restaurant at the next stop on the way back. The food they served was too much for any of us to eat, so instead of wasting the food, we asked the hotel employees to pack half of the food served in a plantain leaf packing, they did that very professionally. The balance, we had plenty of food to eat from the half serving.

    While we reached at Trivandrum, we saw some very poor people at the side walk and asked them whether they need some food. They said loudly yes. So we gave them the food packets and they were very happy. If we take such a simple action of compassion, we all can feed thousands of people every day.

    Jaimini P.B., we are standing at the opposite sides in political ideology, but we all, irrespective of our political ideology and religious faith must stand together to feed the suffering world because the pain of hunger is the worst pain of life.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Joy, Dubai, Kokkada

    Mon, Sep 05 2016

    St.Mother Teresa pray for whole world and keep peace on his world.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence / Frenny Fernandes, Urwa / Dubai

    Mon, Sep 05 2016

    St. Mother Teresa,

    Please pray for our intentions. Let all know that we must live for others and not for ourselves. Then only we will be honoured here on earth and definitely after the end of our life on earth.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • ad, mangaluru

    Mon, Sep 05 2016

    A great saint of our times. St. Mother Theresa bestow your blessings on us.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph, RAK

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St.Mother Teresa of modern world we Bow down our heads on this special day..Pray for us all.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rilson, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Sri did any 1 tel u to believe whether miracle will happen or not ... mother bless us

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • A. S. Mathew, U.S.

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Another glorious day of the whole world, especially for India.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr. Cajetan Coelho, Goa, India

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Mother Teresa - Pray for us.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred J. Lewis, Matpady-Brahmavar/ New York USA

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Teresa's Canonization and declaration of sainthood is an international celebration, celebrated in all continents...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • neil, uk

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Where is Narendra Nayak and others from the Rationalists Group? What happened to supertitions blah blah blah..?
    I guess it applies only for Hindus.

    Politics apart. Mother Teresa please shower your blessings on all.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Raising Mother Theresa to sainthood is not only an honour to her community, to her motherland, relatives and friends but a great honour to India where she lived and worked for the poor and the destitute. and lived with them. Her whole life is a life of piety, love for the poor and supreme sacrifice.

    I had the privilege of meeting Mother Theresa during her visit to Mangalore several decades ago and the picture taken of her with me adorns my home. I did not then realize that I was shaking hands with a saint to be. I am ever grateful to Bishop Basil D'Souza for inviting me to meet her at The Bishop's House in Kodailbail
    The memory still lingers in my mind and will never fade.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Raising Mother Theresa to sainthood is not only an honour to her community, to her motherland, relatives and friends but a great honour to India where she lived and worked for the poor and the destitute. and lived with them. Her whole life is a life of piety, love for the poor and supreme sacrifice.

    I had the privilege of meeting Mother Theresa during her visit to Mangalore several decades ago and the picture taken of her with me adorns my home. I did not then realize that I was shaking hands with a saint to be. I am ever grateful to Bishop Basil D'Souza for inviting me to meet her at The Bishop's House in Kodailbail
    The memory still lingers in my mind and will never fade.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Truth, Love, Obedience, Honest, Faith, Sacrificing, and Simple you thought us Dear Saint Theresa to us. It is very hard to live the way you lived and served to mankind. Please Pray & Bless every one to follow your example in our daily life.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    It is nice that in these times we can honor someone who gave her life to doing God's work. Today it is good day to be Catholic.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilma Lewis, Bangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Dear St.Mother Teresa, Pray for Us. we are so proud that you are a saint from India.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Naveen, Kuwait

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Mother of Poor of the Poorest, pray for us..

    DisAgree [3] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Felix D'Souza, Paladka

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St.Teresa of Calcutta..Pray For Us

    DisAgree [3] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwyn, Canadian

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    I do see comments from many hindu brothers and sister. Mother has served all religion without descriminations. Pray for us mother all.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • ROSHAN RAKESH DSOUZA, URWA / DOHA

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    "ST.MOTHER TERESA PRAY FOR US"

    DisAgree [4] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ida Miranda, Dubai

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Great news, Mother Teresa pray for us

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • callen dsouza, bendur

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    mother plz pray for us

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • errol, maNGALORE

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    st mother teressa pray for us

    DisAgree [2] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Mother Teresa pray for us. "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."

    DisAgree [2] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • asha, Attur

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Glory and praises be to Mother Teresa who served the children of God and who dedicated her life to the love of God.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • tom Cat, Mangalore/Mumbai

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Teresa's life had set a unique example to the world.

    "She practised Christianity. The majority of Christians only spend their time talking about it."

    DisAgree [5] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anitha, Attur

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    " ದೆವಾಕ್ ಅರ್ಗಂ..."Saint Mother Teresa Pray for us.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nishel, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Mother Teresa Pray For Us and Intercede for our needs.

    Wt a Joy for all Catholics and especially for us Indians,Saint of Our Era,most Memorable day in the history of Church.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence Fernandes, Urwa / Dubai

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Mother Teresa pray for us & whole world. Let there be peace & love in the world instead of hatred.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alwin quadras, Abudhabi..U.a.e /panjimar.Shirva

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint mother Theresa pray for us amen.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Precilla Pereira, Derebail

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Mother Teresa Pray for us

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lidwin D'Souza, Bondel/Bahrain

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Lord Jesus, we thank you for the Sainthood of Mother Teresa.
    Dear Saint Mother Teresa, please pray for us.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Paul DSouza, Bondel/Sharjah

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Mother Teresa pray for us.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • THERESA LOBO, MUKAMAR,SHARJAH

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    ST.MOTHER THERESA PRAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

    PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cyril Monteiro, Kapikad

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    This may not bring any changes in Sungh Parival attitude towards Mother Teresa.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lloyd , UAE

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St. Mother Theresa pray for us.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Michael Noronha, Mysore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Teresa of Kolkatta is the true "Face of Jesus Christ" while on earth. May she intercede for "World Peace".

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kusuma Kumari G Nellore, Kodyadka

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    May Saint Teressa bless us all. She was really a mother to all people who were suffering in Kalkotha. A great human being. She is pride of India. St Teressa may bless everyone.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • ANIL, mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    SAINT MOTHER THERESA PRAY FOR US

    DisAgree [3] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh, Udupi

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    "If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one" Mother Theresa"
    St. Mother Theresa Pray for US. Hallelujah Amen.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [42] Reply Report Abuse

  • Antony Fernandes, Mangaluru/USA

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint Mother Teresa pray for us.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe Britto, Nakre/Bangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    The True Saint as the name suggest who actually picked the poorest of the poor from the Gutters and yes CONVERTED them to Human beings !

    A in the ocean as Saint Teresa says of herself ...but yet the is now become a stream and a river & a Sea & Ocean soon !

    DisAgree [5] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mahesh Prabhu, Mangalore / Doha

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Blessed Mother Teresa selflessly served our brothers and sisters from Mother India.

    Holy Mother was saint all the way!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [60] Reply Report Abuse

  • mohan, mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    For the entire world she shown what humanity means.
    As per her if one person helps atleast one poor the world will be like heaven.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [59] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Abu Dhabi

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Saint mother Theresa of pray for us

    DisAgree [2] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • indian/m. lore,

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    " ದೆವಾಕ್ ಅರ್ಗಂ..."

    DisAgree [3] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • CLITUS TAURO, Doha Qatar

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St Teresa Pray for us...Bless Us...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • steve, mulki

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St.Mother Theresa Pray for us.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • gm, mlur

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Mother Teresa, Pray for us.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jeevan, Udupi

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Great Day Indeed. St. Mother Teresa. Pray for us.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [36] Reply Report Abuse

  • Orton, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St. Mother Teresa Pray for us.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [45] Reply Report Abuse

  • Pratap Rao, Bangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    What does this cannonisation mean? It means the Church has proclaimed that she is a universal model of human life for all those who desire to live meaningful lives. Can there be a life with meaning if we exclude the poor and the downtrodden? They are also part of God's creation and they need to be loved and included. Mother invites all of us to be more human, concerned and compassionate

    DisAgree [2] Agree [143] Reply Report Abuse

  • Francis Mathias, Udupi

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Entire world has witnessed the canonization ceremony of Mother Teresa. A great day for India.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [68] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gangaram, Moodbidri

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Thanks to youtube for live streaming.... nice prayer ceremoney is going on. felt blessed.... and many Indian flags in the crowed.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [87] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    I can never support absurdities.

    Whether Miracles, no miracles, Sainthood, no sainthood, Mother Theresa has already made her space in our lives.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [117] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Declaring sainthood for her good work is acceptable.

    Stomach tumour cured. Who diagnosed it? Still the woman alive? Many questions in my mind.

    DisAgree [135] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    If you believe everything is possible in this world. try it once with your clean mind and heart.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [50] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jacob Mendonsa, Bangalore

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    Sri,
    The lady whose stomach tumour was cured is still surviving & living in Calcutta. She has given her testimony yesterday on news Channels. She clearly stated that she lost all her hopes, until she started praying with Mother Teresa.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse

  • Herbert Joseph Menezes, Barkur

    Sun, Sep 04 2016

    St.Mother Teresa pray for us

    DisAgree [6] Agree [81] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Pope declares Mother Teresa a saint



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