September 4, 2016
Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in a ceremony at the Vatican, recognizing her lifetime of work with the poor and sick in India.
Vatican City, Vatican City | Roman Catholic Church
On September 4, 2016, Mother Teresa, known for her extensive humanitarian work, was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in a ceremony held at the Vatican. This event marked the culmination of a process that recognized her lifetime of service to the poor and sick, particularly in India.
Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje (now the capital of North Macedonia), dedicated her life to serving the destitute. In 1950, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, India, an organization that grew to include thousands of sisters running hospices, orphanages, and leper houses worldwide.
Her work earned her international acclaim, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Despite facing criticism from some quarters regarding the conditions in her homes and her stance on certain social issues, her commitment to aiding the most vulnerable remained unwavering.
The path to sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church involves several stages, including the verification of miracles attributed to the candidate’s intercession. For Mother Teresa, the first miracle recognized was the healing of an Indian woman with a tumor in 2002, leading to her beatification by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
The second miracle, necessary for canonization, involved the healing of a Brazilian man with multiple brain abscesses in 2008. This miracle was approved by Pope Francis in 2015, paving the way for her canonization.
The canonization ceremony took place in St. Peter’s Square, attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world, including many from India. In his homily, Pope Francis praised Mother Teresa as a “generous dispenser of divine mercy” and a model of holiness for the modern world.
Mother Teresa’s canonization was significant not only for the Catholic Church but also for the global community. It highlighted her enduring legacy of compassion and service, inspiring countless individuals and organizations to continue her mission of helping those in need.
Her life and work remain a testament to the power of selfless service and the impact one individual can have on the world. Her canonization reaffirmed her status as a symbol of hope and charity, transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
Source: www.vaticannews.va