Rich tributes were paid to Mother Teresa, who was declared a Saint on Sunday by Pope Francis at the Vatican City, in a programme organised by the Conference of Religious India (CRI) – Diocese of Vijayawada here on Sunday.
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The process usually does not start until at least five years after the candidate’s death.
Held at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, a huge applause broke out from the audience as Pope Francis began the ceremony – with a portrait of Mother Teresa hanging on display from the Basilica.
Some say the church expedited her sainthood because of her fame and reputation.
If you like this article, Like The Middle Ground’s Facebook Page as well! Nuns decorated the Mother House with flowers, portraits of Teresa and lights.
For her work in the shanty towns and slumps, she was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1979.
“She had a great impact, this place was just shining like a star”, said Kaliea “She had a glow on her face, and she was a totally wrinkled woman, but still so lovely”.
“I am so proud to be from Kolkata”, said Sanjay Sarkar, a high school student on hand for the celebration. “She dedicated her life to loving others, so why not me, why not us?”
“Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers: may she be your model of holiness!” “Let us carry her smile in our hearts”, Pope Francis said.
She was born in 1910 to Albanian parents.
Mother Teresa’s canonization took just 19 years, considered extremely quick in matters of the Catholic Church.
At the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity group that she founded in Kolkata, hundreds of people watching the Mass on TV with joy when Pope Francis declared her a saint. Some 1,500 homeless people will be served a pizza lunch at the Vatican.
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“There were people there from everywhere in the world, Australia, Europe, United States, and we were working in the orphanage helping to feed the children, changing diapers, there must have been 300 kids in this orphanage”, Schaefer said. With a shy smile and nearly a whisper she answered: ‘By blood and origin I am all Albanian.
