Church & Ministries

Pope Francis proclaims Teresa of Calcutta a saint


Reuters – A general view of Saint Peter’s Square as Pope Francis leads a mass for the canonisation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Vatican September 4, 2016.

Pope Francis proclaimed Mother Teresa of Calcutta a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, 19 years after her death.

Thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square applauded as the tiny nun known as the “saint of the gutters” in her lifetime was officially elevated to join the Church’s more than 10,000 saints.

Francis’ predecessor Pope John Paul II bent Vatican rules to fast-track Mother Teresa to sainthood – a process which usually does not start until five years after the candidate’s death – two years after she died in 1997.

She is credited with two miraculous healings after her death.

Pope Francis leads a mass for the canonisation of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican September 4, 2016.

Thousands gathered at the Vatican for the ceremony, many pilgrims arriving before dawn.

Cardinal Angelo Amato talked about her work, and then asked Pope Francis to canonise her.

Pope Francis responded: “After due deliberation and frequent prayer for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brother bishops, we declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a saint and we enrol her among the saints, decreeing that she is to be venerated as such by the whole Church.”

A special Mass was celebrated at the Missionaries of Charity, which Mother Teresa founded in Kolkata.

Original Article

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