KOLKATA: The
Vatican on Wednesday declared Mother Teresa a
patron saint of the Archdiocese of Calcutta at a Mass in the city where she dedicated her life to the poorest of the poor. The honor came 16 months after
Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint. About 500 people attended the Mass where vicar general Dominique Gomes read the decree instituting her as the second patron saint of the archdiocese.
Mother Teresa's name will be mentioned whenever people under the archdiocese pray or a Mass is held. The Vatican's ambassador to India, Giambattista Diquattro, led the Mass and inaugurated a bronze statue of Mother Teresa carrying a child.
“We are happy that Archdiocese of Calcutta has declared her as its patron, acknowledging her great work for the people,“ said Sister Prema, head of
Missionaries of Charity, the order of nuns started by Mother Teresa in 1950.