Mother Teresa Cleared for Sainthood

Pope Francis has cleared the way for sainthood by approving a decree recognising a second miracle attributed to her intercession with God, a requirement of sainthood.

Teresa’s previous attributed miracle in 2003 was linked to an Indian woman who prayed to the nun, after which her incurable tumor suddenly disappeared, The New York Times reported.

Beatification requires one miracle and is the last step before sainthood, which requires a second.

The patient from Santos, Brazil, was diagnosed with “viral brain infection that resulted in multiple abscesses with triventricular hydrocephalus”, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, the prelate steering Teresa’s canonization, said in a separate statement.

There are few details about the recovery of the Brazilian man, whose life the Vatican says was saved in the second miracle. Her canonisation to sainthood will bring hope and joy to everyone who dedicates oneself at the service of poor, ” he said.

The paper speculated the pope would probably canonize Mother Teresa on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016 – the day before the anniverary of her death and her official feast day.

Teresa, who was born to Albanian parents in what is now Skopje in Macedonia, was known across the world for her charity work. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

D’Souza said he believes that Mother Teresa may be “the figure that unites, helps dialogue in India”.

Pope Francis chose to declare Mother Teresa a saint on Thursday, his 79th birthday, after a meeting with the Vatican’s saint-making office. It was held at the West Bengal government-run auditorium Nandan with support from the Archdiocese of Calcutta and Missionaries of Charity.

Pope Francis authorized the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

“We are all absolutely delighted about the news”, said Sister Ita of the Missionaries of Charity headquarters in the center of the city. Her link to the folks in Kolkata was not so weak that prior to her departure in September 1997, she notoriously returned to pay her final days with all the folks.

Delhi Archbishop Anil JT Couto welcomed the Vatican decision to elevate Mother Teresa to sainthood. “Look at the work she did, not a day’s holiday, not a day’s rest”. “The first case of miracle was in Kolkata”, added Sunita Kumar. Her canonisation in Rome is expected to again draw large crowds for what will likely be one of the highlights of the special Jubilee year.

Her critics, however, accused her of peddling a hardline Catholicism, mixing with dictators and accepting funds from them for her charity.