Difference between revisions of "Mother Teresa" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Mother Teresa 1985 cropped.jpg|thumb|Mother Teresa in 1985]]
 
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'''Mother Teresa''' (born '''Agnesa Gonxha Bojaxhiu''' August 27, 1910 – September 5, 1997), [[Bharat Ratna]], [[Order of Merit|OM]], was an [[Albanians|Albanian]] [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[nun]] who founded the [[Missionaries of Charity]] in [[India]]. Her work among the [[poverty|poverty-stricken]] of [[Kolkata]] (Calcutta) made her one of the world's most famous people, and she was [[Beatification|beatified]] by [[Pope John Paul II]] in October 2003. Hence, she may be properly called ''[[Beatification|Blessed]] Teresa'' by Catholics.
 
  
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Born in [[Skopje]], [[Ottoman Empire]] (located in modern-day [[Macedonia]]), at 18 she left home to join the Sisters of Loretto. In 1962, she received the [[Magsaysay Award]] for Peace and International Understanding. In 1971, she was awarded the [[Pope John XXIII]] Peace Prize. Teresa was also awarded the [[Templeton Prize]] in 1973, the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 1979, and [[India]]'s highest civilian award, the [[Bharat Ratna]], in 1980. She was awarded the Legion d'Honneur from Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1981. She was presented with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 1985, was made an [[Honorary Citizen of the United States]] (one of only two people to have this honor during their lifetime) in 1996, and received the [[Congressional Gold Medal]] in 1997. She was the first and only person to be featured on an Indian postage stamp while still alive.  
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[[File:Mother Teresa 1.jpg|300px|thumb|Mother Teresa in 2001]]
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'''Mother Teresa''', in full '''Saint Teresa of Calcutta''', (born '''Agnesa Gonxha Bojaxhiu''' August 27, 1910 – September 5, 1997), was born in Skopje, [[Ottoman Empire]] (located in modern-day [[North Macedonia]]). At the age of 18, she left home to become a [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[nun]] and join the Sisters of Loreto in [[Ireland]]. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in [[India]] in 1950. She was forty years old. Her lifetime of service to the poverty-stricken of [[Kolkata]] (Calcutta) made her one of the world's most famous people. She was beatified by [[Pope John Paul II]] in October 2003 and canonized by [[Pope Francis I]] on September 4, 2016.
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Her supporters sometimes referred to her as the "Angel of Mercy" and "Saint of the Gutter." She was a woman who experienced God's call in such an intense and personal way that she took a path that gave up the creature comforts most of us covet. In requesting permission to establish the Missionaries of Charity, she was asking to fulfill a calling as a nun but outside the confines of the convent. In so doing, she bucked tradition and lived her life in service to and among the most desperate souls of humanity.
  
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While her supporters sometimes referred to her as the "Angel of Mercy" and "Saint of the Gutter," critics have raised questions about her public statements, working practices, political connections, and the use of funds donated to her [[charitable organization|charity]].
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==Early Years in Skopje==
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Gonxhe, the third child in the Bojaxhiu family, was born in the family home at Pop Kocina street 13, in the center of Skopje on August 26, 1910. She was baptized in the Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Gonxhe successfully completed elementary and high school in church schools, where she was an active member of the drama section, the literary section, and the church chorus. Over all, she enjoyed a happy childhood with her older brother and sister.
  
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==Early years in Skopje==
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The Bojaxhiu family had a long tradition of success in crafts, fabric dyeing and trade.  
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Gonxhe, the third child in the Bojaxhiu family, was born in the family home at pop Kocina street 13, in the center of Skopje on August 26, 1910. She was baptized in the Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.  Gonxhe successfully completed elementary and high school years in church schools, where she was an active member of the drama section, the literary section, and the church chorus.  Over all, she enjoyed a happy childhood with her brother and sister.
 
  
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The Bojaxhiu family had a long tradition of success in crafts, fabric-dyeing and trade.  
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At age 12, Gonxhe joined an [[Abbey]]. When Gonxhe was 18, she became a member of the Loreto Order of nuns in Ireland, taking the name, Sister Teresa. Six months later, she was sent to the Loreto Convent in Calcutta.  She taught school there and eventually became principal. As her relationship with [[Jesus]] strengthened, she felt his pain toward the very poor. She experienced Jesus' call to go and bring God's love and be of service to the most desperately poor of Calcutta. This led her to leave the comparative comfort of the school compound, protected from the city's most abject poverty, and live on the streets with the poorest of the poor.
  
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At age 12, Gonxhe joined an Abbey. When she was 18, she became a member of the Loreto Order of nuns. Mother Teresa, the mother of the poor of the world, always identified herself with her home town by saying, “If it hadn’t been for Skopje, I would not have existed. I am a girl from Skopje”.
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==Missionaries of Charity==
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After two years of serving on the streets of [[Calcutta]], in October 1950, Teresa requested and received [[Holy See|Vatican]] permission to start a diocesan congregation, which would become the [[Missionaries of Charity]]. The mission was to care for (in Teresa's own words) "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone."
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[[File:Sisters of Charity.jpg|thumb|300px|Missionaries of Charity wearing traditional Indian saris, First Annual (September 2005) Southeastern Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte, NC.]]
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It began as a small order with 12 members in Calcutta. By 2006, there were more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages, [[AIDS]] hospices, and charity centers worldwide, caring for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor, homeless, victims of floods, epidemics and famine on all six continents.
  
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==The Beginnings of the Missionaries of Charity==
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In 1952, the first home for the dying was opened in space made available by the City of Calcutta. With the help of Indian officials Mother Teresa converted an abandoned [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temple into the Kalighat Home for the Dying, a free [[hospice]] for the poor. Soon afterwards she opened another hospice, Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), a home for lepers called Shanti Nagar (City of Peace), and an orphanage. The order began to attract both recruits and charitable donations. By the 1960s, the order had opened hospices, orphanages and leper houses all over India. Mother Teresa was one of the first to establish homes for [[AIDS]] victims.
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In October, 1950 Teresa received [[Holy See|Vatican]] permission to start a diocesan congregation, which would become the [[Missionaries of Charity]], whose mission was to care for (in her own words) "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the [[Leprosy|lepers]], all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." It began as a small order with 12 members in Calcutta; today it has more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages, AIDS hospices, and charity centres worldwide, and caring for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor and homeless and victims of floods, epidemics and famine on all six continents.
 
  
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In 1952 the first Home for the Dying was opened in space made available by the City of Calcutta. With the help of Indian officials she converted an abandoned [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temple into the [[Kalighat Home for the Dying]], a free [[Hospice care|hospice]] for the poor. She soon after opened another hospice, Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), a home for [[leprosy|lepers]] called Shanti Nagar (City of Peace), and an orphanage. The order soon began to attract both recruits and charitable donations, and by the 1960s had opened hospices, orphanages and leper houses all over India. She was one of the first to establish homes for AIDS victims.
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Teresa's order grew rapidly. New facilities opened all over the globe. The order's first house outside India was in [[Venezuela]]. Others followed in [[Rome]], [[Tanzania]], and eventually in many countries in [[Asia]], [[Africa]], and [[Europe]], including [[Albania]].  
  
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Teresa's order started to rapidly grow, with new homes opening all over the globe. The order's first house outside India was in [[Venezuela]], and others followed in [[Rome]] and [[Tanzania]], and eventually in many countries in [[Asia]], [[Africa]], and [[Europe]], including [[Albania]].  
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By the early 1970s, Mother Teresa had become well known internationally. The 1969, documentary film, ''Something Beautiful for God'' filmed  by [[Malcolm Muggeridge]], and his 1971 book of the same title, publicized her work around the world.
  
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By the early 1970s, Mother Teresa had become an international celebrity. Her fame can be in large part attributed to the 1969 [[documentary film|documentary]] ''Something Beautiful for God'' which was filmed  by [[Malcolm Muggeridge]] and his 1971 book of the same title, which is still in print. During the filming of the documentary, footage taken in poor lighting conditions, particularly the Home for the Dying, was thought unlikely to be of usable quality by the crew. After returning from India, however, the footage was found to be extremely well-lit. Muggeridge claimed this was a miracle of "divine light" from Mother Teresa herself. Others in the crew thought it more likely ascribable to a new type of [[Kodak]] film. Muggeridge later converted to Catholicism.
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Film footage for the documentary, taken in poor lighting conditions, was thought by the crew to be unusable. However, after returning from India, the film was found to be extremely well lit. Muggeridge claimed this was a miracle of "divine light" from Mother Teresa. Others in the crew thought it more likely ascribable to a new type of film. Muggeridge later converted to Catholicism.
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[[File:Mother Teresa & Michèle Duvalier.jpg|thumb|300px|Mother Teresa and Michèle Duvalier, former First Lady of Haiti, January 1981]]
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In 1982, Mother Teresa persuaded [[Israel|Israelis]] and [[Palestine|Palestinians]], who were in the midst of a skirmish, to cease fire long enough to rescue 37 mentally handicapped patients from a besieged hospital in [[Beirut]].
  
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[[Image:President Reagan presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom 1985.jpg|thumb|300px|President [[Ronald Reagan]] presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom at a [[White House]] ceremony, 1985.]]
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When the walls of [[Eastern Europe]] collapsed, she expanded her efforts to communist countries that had rejected her, embarking on dozens of projects. Mother Teresa also traveled to help the hungry in [[Ethiopia]], radiation victims at [[Chernobyl]], and earthquake victims in [[Armenia]]. In 1991, Mother Teresa returned for the first time to her native region and opened a Missionaries of Charity Brothers home in Tirana, Albania.
  
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In 1971 Paul VI awarded her the first [[Pope John XXIII]] Peace Prize. Other awards bestowed upon her included a Kennedy Prize (1971), the [[Balzan prize]] (1978) for humanity, peace and brotherhood among peoples, the [[Albert Schweitzer]] International Prize (1975), the [[United States]] [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (1985) and the [[Congressional Gold Medal]] (1994), honorary citizenship of the United States ([[November 16]], [[1996]]), and honorary degrees from a number of universities. In 1972 Mother Teresa was awarded the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding.
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By 1996, she was operating 517 missions in more than 100 countries. Over the years, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew from 12 nuns to thousands serving the "poorest of the poor" in 450 centers around the world. The first Missionaries of Charity home in the [[United States]] was established in the South Bronx, [[New York]].
  
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In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]], "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." She refused the conventional ceremonial banquet given to laureates, and asked that the $6,000 funds be diverted to the poor in Calcutta, claiming the money would permit her to feed hundreds of needy for a year. She is stated to have said that earthly rewards were important only if they helped her help the world’s needy. When Mother Teresa received the prize, she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" Her answer was simple: "Go home and love your family." In the same year, she was also awarded the [[Balzan Prize]] for promoting peace and brotherhood among the nations.
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== Spiritual Life ==
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Analyzing her deeds and achievements, [[Pope John Paul II]] asked: "Where did Mother Teresa find the strength to place herself completely at the service of others? She found it in prayer and in the silent contemplation of [[Jesus Christ]], his Holy Face, his Sacred Heart."<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/2003/october/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20031020_pilgrims-mother-teresa.html Address of John Paul II to the Pilgrims who had come to Rome for the Beatification of Mother Teresa] October 20, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref>
  
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In 1982, Mother Teresa persuaded Israelis and Palestinians, who were in the midst of a skirmish, to cease fire long enough to rescue 37 mentally handicapped patients from a besieged hospital in [[Beirut]].
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In his first encyclical ''Deus Caritas Est'', Benedict XVI mentioned Teresa of Calcutta three times.  He also used her life to clarify one of his main points of the encyclical. "In the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta we have a clear illustration of the fact that time devoted to God in prayer not only does not detract from effective and loving service to our neighbor but is in fact the inexhaustible source of that service."
  
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When the walls of Eastern Europe collapsed, she expanded her efforts to communist countries that had rejected her, embarking on dozens of projects. She was undeterred by criticism about her firm stand against abortion and divorce saying, "No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work."
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===A Franciscan Influence===
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Although there was no direct connection between Mother Teresa's order and the Franciscan orders, she was known as a great admirer of St [[Francis of Assisi]]. Accordingly her influence and life show influences of Franciscan spirituality.
  
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Mother Teresa travelled to help the hungry in [[Ethiopia]], radiation victims at [[Chernobyl]], and earthquake victims in [[Armenia]].
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Her sisters say the peace prayer of St. Francis every morning before breakfast. Many of the vows as well as the emphasis of her ministry are similar. St. Francis emphasized [[poverty]], [[chastity]], obedience and submission to Christ. He also devoted much of his own life to service of the poor in the area where he lived, especially [[leprosy|lepers]].
  
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In 1991, Mother Teresa returned for the first time to her native region and opened a Missionaries of Charity Brothers home in [[Tirana]], [[Albania]].
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== Deteriorating Health and Death ==
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In 1983, Teresa suffered a heart attack in [[Rome]], while visiting [[Pope John Paul II]]. After a second attack in 1989, she received a pacemaker. In 1991, after a battle with [[pneumonia]] while in [[Mexico]], she had further heart problems.
  
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By 1996, she was operating 517 missions in more than 100 countries. Over the years, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew from 12 to thousands serving the "poorest of the poor" in 450 centers around the world. The first Missionaries of Charity home in the [[United States]] was established in the [[The Bronx|South Bronx]], [[New York]].
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She offered to resign her position as head of the order. A secret ballot vote was carried out. All the nuns except her, voted for Mother Teresa to stay. Mother Teresa agreed to continue her work as head of the Missionaries of Charity.
  
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== Spiritual life ==
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In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her collar bone. In August, she suffered from [[malaria]], and failure of the left heart ventricle. She underwent heart surgery, but it was clear that her health was declining. On March 13, 1997, Mother Teresa stepped down as head of Missionaries of Charity. She died on September 5, 1997, just 9 days after her 87th birthday.
  
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Analyzing her deed and achievements, John Paul II asked: "Where did Mother Teresa find the strength to place herself completely at the service of others? She found it in prayer and in the silent contemplation of [[Jesus]] [[Christ]], his Holy Face, his [[Sacred Heart]]."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2003/october/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20031020_pilgrims-mother-teresa_en.html | title=ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL II TO THE PILGRIMS WHO HAD COME TO ROME FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MOTHER TERESA | year=2003 | author=John Paul II | accessdate=2006-03-07}}</ref>
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The Archbishop of Calcutta, Henry Sebastian D'Souza, ordered a priest to perform an [[exorcism]] on Mother Teresa shortly before she died because he thought she was being attacked by a devil. She agreed to the exorcism.<ref> [https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/09/04/mother.theresa.exorcism/ Archbishop: Mother Teresa underwent exorcism] ''CNN'', September 7, 2001. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref>
  
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In his first encyclical ''[[Deus Caritas Est]]'', [[Benedict XVI]] mentioned Teresa of Calcutta three times and he also used her life to clarify one of his main points of the encyclical. "In the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta we have a clear illustration of the fact that time devoted to God in prayer not only does not detract from effective and loving service to our neighbour but is in fact the inexhaustible source of that service."
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At the time of her death, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity had over 4,000 sisters, an associated brotherhood of 300 members, and over 100,000 lay volunteers, operating 610 missions in 123 countries. These included hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and [[tuberculosis]], soup kitchens, children's and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools.
  
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===A Franciscan influence===
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Mother Teresa was granted a full state funeral by the Government of India, an honor normally reserved for presidents and prime ministers, in gratitude for her service to the poor of all religions in India. Her death was widely considered a great tragedy within both secular and religious communities.
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Although there was no direct connection between Mother Teresa's order and the Franciscan orders, she was known as a great admirer of [[St. Francis of Assisi]].
 
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<ref>[http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Teresa/Teresa_Assisi.asp Mother Teresa of Calcutta Pays Tribute to St. Francis of Assisi]</ref>
 
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Accordingly her influence and life show influences of Franciscan spirituality.
 
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Her sisters say the peace prayer of St. Francis every morning before breakfast and many of the vows and emphasis of her ministry are similar.  St. Francis emphasized poverty, chastity, obedience and submission to Christ. He also devoted much of his own life to service of the poor, especially lepers in the area where he lived.
 
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<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_assisi</ref>
 
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== Deteriorating health and death ==
 
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<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Mother-teresa-04.jpg|thumb|300px|Mother Teresa's funeral]] —>
 
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<!-- FAIR USE of Mother-teresa-04.jpg: see image description page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mother-teresa-04.jpg for rationale —>
 
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In 1983 Teresa suffered a heart attack in [[Rome]], while visiting [[Pope John Paul II]]. After a second attack in 1989, she received a [[Artificial pacemaker|pacemaker]]. In 1991, after a battle with [[pneumonia]] while in [[Mexico]], she had further heart problems.
 
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She offered to resign her position as head of the order. A secret ballot vote was carried out, and all the nuns, except herself, voted for Mother Teresa to stay. Mother Teresa agreed to continue her work as head of the Missionaries of Charity.
 
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In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her [[collar bone]]. Later that year, in August, she suffered from [[malaria]], and failure of the left [[heart]] [[ventricle]]. She underwent [[heart surgery]], but it was clear that her health was declining. On [[March 13]], [[1997]] she stepped down from the head of Missionaries of Charity and died on [[September 5]],[[1997]], just 9 days after her 87th birthday.
 
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The Archbishop of Calcutta, Henry Sebastian D'Souza, said he ordered a priest to perform an [[exorcism]] on Mother Teresa shortly before she died because he thought she was being attacked by a devil. <ref> [http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/09/04/mother.theresa.exorcism/ Archbishop: Mother Teresa underwent exorcism.] [[CNN]], September 7, 2001</ref>
 
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At the time of her death, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity had over 4,000 sisters, an associated brotherhood of 300 members, and over 100,000 lay volunteers, operating 610 missions in 123 countries. These included hospices and homes for people with [[AIDS|HIV/AIDS]], [[leprosy]] and [[tuberculosis]], [[soup kitchen]]s, children's and family counseling programs, [[orphanage]]s, and schools.
 
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Mother Teresa was granted a full [[state funeral]] by the [[Government of India|Indian Government]], an honor normally given to [[President of India|president]]s and [[Prime Minister of India|prime minister]]s, in gratitude for her services to the poor of all religions in India. Her death was widely considered a great tragedy within both secular and religious communities. The former [[Secretary General of the United Nations|U.N. Secretary-General]] [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]], for example, said: "She is the [[United Nations]]. She is peace in the world." [[Nawaz Sharif]], the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]] said that Mother Teresa was "A rare and unique individual who lived long for higher purposes. Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of service to our humanity."
 
  
 
==Influence in the World==
 
==Influence in the World==
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Mother Teresa's work inspired other Catholics to affiliate themselves with her order. The Missionaries of Charity Brothers was founded in 1963. A contemplative branch of the Sisters followed in 1976. Lay Catholics and non-Catholics were enrolled in the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa, the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers, and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. In answer to the requests of many priests, in 1981, Mother Teresa also began the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests. Today over one million workers worldwide volunteer for the Missionaries of Charity.
  
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Mother Teresa's work inspired other Catholics to affiliate themselves with her order. The Missionaries of Charity Brothers was founded in 1963, and a contemplative branch of the Sisters followed in 1976. Lay Catholics and non-Catholics were enrolled in the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa, the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers, and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. In answer to the requests of many priests, in 1981 Mother Teresa also began the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests. Today over one million workers worldwide volunteer for the Missionaries of Charity.
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During her lifetime and after her death, Mother Teresa was consistently listed by [[Gallup's List of Widely Admired People]] to be the single most widely admired person. In 1999, she was ranked as the "most admired person of the 20th century." Notably, Mother Teresa out-polled all other volunteered answers by a wide margin, and was in first place in all major demographic categories except the very young.
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During her lifetime and after her death, Mother Teresa was consistently found by [[Gallup]] to be the single most widely [[Gallup's List of Widely Admired People|admired person]], and in 1999 was ranked as the "most admired person of the 20th century." Notably, Mother Teresa out-polled all other volunteered answers by a wide margin, and was in first place in all major demographic categories except the very young.
 
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== Miracle and beatification ==
 
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Following Teresa's death in 1997, the [[Holy See]] began the process of [[beatification]], the second step towards possible [[canonization]], or [[sainthood]]. This process requires the documentation of a [[miracle]] performed from the [[intercession]] of Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Vatican recognized as a miracle the healing of a [[tumor]] in the abdomen of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, following the application of a locket containing Teresa's picture. Monica Besra said that a beam of light emanated from the picture, curing the cancerous tumor.
 
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The issue of the alleged miracle proved controversial in India around the time of Mother Teresa's beatification.<ref>{{cite web | title=http://www.southend.wayne.edu/days/2003/October/10202003/nation/india/india.html | url=http://www.southend.wayne.edu/days/2003/October/10202003/nation/india/india.html | accessdate=December 5 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> Teresa was formally beatified by [[Pope John Paul II]] on [[October 19]], [[2003]] with the title ''Blessed Teresa of Calcutta''. A second miracle is required for her to proceed to canonization.
 
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According to ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', Besra's husband initially said that the tumor was cured by her believing in herself.  He is quoted as saying: "This miracle is a hoax.  It is much ado about nothing.  My wife was cured by the doctors." He later changed his mind, however, and told an interviewer: "It was her miracle healing that cured my wife. Our situation was terrible and we didn't know what to do. Now my children are being educated with the help of the nuns and I have been able to buy a small piece of land. Everything has changed for the better."<ref>{{cite web | title=Telegraph: News: Medicine cured 'miracle' woman - not Mother Teresa, say doctors | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/10/05/wteres05.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/10/05/ixworld.html | accessdate=December 5 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> According to Monica Besra in ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME Asia]]'',<ref>{{cite web | title=TIME Asia Magazine: What's Mother Teresa Got to Do with It? — Oct. 21, 2002 | url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/article/0,13673,501021021-364433,00.html | accessdate=December 5 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> records of her treatment were removed by a member of the order from the hospital and are now with a nun.
 
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<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:PJPII BMTeresa.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Pope John Paul II with Mother Teresa.]] —>
 
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== Controversy and critics ==
 
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Critics of Mother Teresa have argued that her organization provided substandard care, and were primarily interested in converting the dying to Catholicism. At the same time, Teresa received large sums in donations, the amount or destination of which has not been revealed. These donations are alleged to have been transferred to Catholic missionary programs elsewhere, rather than being spent on improving the standard of healthcare. Furthermore, Teresa's relationships with some donors and political figures has been a source of controversy. The Catholic Church has dismissed most of these criticisms.
 
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===Destination of donations===
 
  
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[[Christopher Hitchens]], a British journalist now living in [[Washington, D.C.]], described Mother Teresa's organization as a [[cult]] which promoted suffering and did not help those in need. Hitchens wrote that Mother Teresa's own words on poverty proved that "her intention was not to help people." He quoted Mother Teresa's words at a 1981 press conference in which she was asked: "Do you teach the poor to endure their lot?"  She replied: "I think it is very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot, to share it with the passion of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]. I think the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people."
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The former [[Secretary General of the United Nations|U.N. Secretary-General]] [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]], said: "She is the [[United Nations]]. She is peace in the world." [[Nawaz Sharif]], the Prime Minister of [[Pakistan]] said that Mother Teresa was "A rare and unique individual who lived long for higher purposes. Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of service to our humanity."
  
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Hitchens further alleged that Mother Teresa lied to donors about what their contributions were to be used for.  Donors were told that the money went to aid and the construction of healthcare facilities in India and elsewhere.  Evidence points to it instead being spent largely on missionary work and that Mother Teresa was actually the controller of some of the funds.  No hospitals were ever built. In 1994, Hitchens published an article in ''[[The Nation (U.S. periodical)|The Nation]]'' entitled "The Ghoul of Calcutta".
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==Sainthood==
  
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[[Aroup Chatterjee|Dr. Aroup Chatterjee]], the author of ''"Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict"'' (2003), asserted that the public image of Mother Teresa as a helper of the poor, the sick, and the dying was misleading and overstated; the number of people who are served by even the largest of the homes is not nearly as large as westerners are led to believe. [http://website.lineone.net/~bajuu/chatback.htm?25,18]
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=== Miracle and Beatification ===
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Following Teresa's death in 1997, the [[Holy See]] began the process of beatification, the second step towards possible canonization, or sainthood. This process requires the documentation of a miracle performed by intercession from Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Vatican recognized the miracle of the healing of a tumor in the abdomen of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, following the application of a locket containing Teresa's picture. Monica Besra said that a beam of light emanated from the picture, curing the cancerous tumor.
  
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Hitchens, with British journalist [[Tariq Ali]], co-produced a [[television]] documentary for the [[UK|UK's]] [[Channel 4]] called ''Hell's Angel'', which was based on Aroup Chatterjee's work. Although he has never disputed the documentary's conclusions, Chatterjee criticized what he called the "sensationalist" approach of the film[http://website.lineone.net/~bajuu/chatback.htm?25,18]. The next year Hitchens published ''[[The Missionary Position (book)|The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice]]'', which contained much of the same content, though with more references.
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Teresa was formally beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003, with the title ''Blessed Teresa of Calcutta''. A second miracle was required for her to proceed to canonization.<ref> Mick Brown, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/did-mother-teresa-really-perform-miracles/ Did Mother Teresa really perform miracles?] ''The Telegraph'', September 2, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref>
  
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===Criticism of care provided===
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The issue of the alleged miracle proved controversial in India around the time of Mother Teresa's beatification. According to ''The Daily Telegraph'', Besra's husband initially said that the tumor was cured by her faith in herself.  He is quoted as saying: "This miracle is a hoax. It is much ado about nothing. My wife was cured by the doctors." He later changed his mind and told an interviewer: "It was her miracle healing that cured my wife. Our situation was terrible and we didn't know what to do. Now my children are being educated with the help of the nuns and I have been able to buy a small piece of land. Everything has changed for the better."<ref>David Orr, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/1443320/Medicine-cured-miracle-woman-not-Mother-Teresa-say-doctors.html Medicine cured 'miracle' woman - not Mother Teresa, say doctors] ''The Telegraph'', October 5, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref>
  
−
In 1991, Dr. Robin Fox, then editor of the British medical journal ''[[The Lancet]]'', visited the Home for Dying Destitute in Calcutta and described the medical care the patients received as "haphazard". He observed that sisters and volunteers, some of whom had no medical knowledge, had to make decisions about patient care, because of the lack of doctors in the hospice. Dr. Fox specifically held Teresa responsible for conditions in this home, and observed that her order did not distinguish between curable and incurable patients; people who could otherwise survive their ordeals would be at a heightened risk of dying from infections and lack of treatment.
+
===Canonization===
 +
{{readout||right|250px|Mother Teresa was canonized as a [[saint]] by [[Pope Francis]] on September 4, 2016}}
 +
On December 17, 2015 the Vatican confirmed that [[Pope Francis]] had recognized a second miracle attributed to her, involving the healing of a Brazilian man with multiple [[brain tumor]]s.<ref>Stephanie Kirchgaessner, [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/dec/18/mother-teresa-to-become-saint-after-pope-recognises-miracle-report Mother Teresa to become saint after Pope recognises 'miracle'] ''The Guardian'', December 18, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2021.</ref> Pope Francis canonized her at a ceremony on September 4, 2016 in [[St. Peter's Square]] in Vatican City. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the ceremony, including 15 official government delegations and 1,500 homeless people from across Italy.<ref name=Povoledo>Elisabetta Povoledo, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/05/world/europe/mother-teresa-named-saint-by-pope-francis.html Mother Teresa Is Made a Saint by Pope Francis] ''The New York Times'', September 3, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref><ref name=saint>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37269512 Mother Teresa declared saint by Pope Francis at Vatican ceremony] ''BBC News'', September 4, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref> The ceremony was televised live on the Vatican channel and streamed online; Skopje, Mother Teresa's hometown, announced a week-long celebration of her canonization.<ref name=Povoledo/> In India, a special Mass was celebrated at the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta.<ref name=saint/>
  
−
Fox conceded that the regimen he observed included cleanliness, the tending of wounds and sores, and kindness, but he noted that the sisters' approach to managing pain was "disturbingly lacking". The formulary at the facility Fox visited lacked strong [[analgesic]]s which he felt clearly separated Mother Teresa's approach from the [[Hospice care|hospice]] movement. Fox also wrote that needles were rinsed with warm water, which left them inadequately sterilized, and the facility did not isolate patients with [[tuberculosis]].
+
==Baptisms of the Dying==
 +
Mother Teresa garnered criticism for her encouragement of sacramental [[baptism]]s performed on the dying (a majority of which were [[Hinduism|Hindus]] and [[Islam|Muslims]]), thus [[Religious conversion|converting]] them to the Catholic faith. The baptisms were done without regard to the individuals' religion. In a speech at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, [[California]] in January, 1992, she said, "Something very beautiful… not one has died without receiving the special ticket for [[St. Peter]], as we call it. We call baptism 'a ticket for St. Peter.' We ask the person, do you want a blessing by which your sins will be forgiven and you receive God? They have never refused. So 29,000 have died in that one house [in Kalighat] from the time we began in 1952."
  
−
Aroup Chatterjee alleged that many operations of the order engage in absolutely no charitable activity at all, but instead use their funds for missionary work. He stated, that none of the eight facilities that the Missionaries of Charity run in [[Papua New Guinea]] have residents living there; their sole use is converting people to Catholicism. In an open letter to Mother Teresa Chatterjee asked for clarification. In the letter, he quotes her as having given numbers of 57,000 helped at a single facility, 250,000 helped at another, thousands helped daily at another. He cast doubt upon these numbers. [http://website.lineone.net/~bajuu/chatlet.htm] According to a ''[[Stern (magazine)|Stern]]'' magazine report about Mother Teresa, the [[Protestantism|Protestant]]-aligned [[Assembly of God]] charity serves 18,000 meals daily in Calcutta, many more than all the Missionaries of Charity's homes combined.
+
===Catholic Church's Response===
 +
In the process of examining Teresa's suitability for beatification and canonization, the Roman Curia (the Vatican) pored over a great deal of documentation of published and unpublished criticisms against her life and work. Vatican officials say the criticisms have been investigated by the agency charged with such matters, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. They found no obstacle to Mother Teresa's canonization. <ref>Don Lattin, [https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/LIVING-SAINT-Mother-Teresa-s-fast-track-to-2583243.php Living Saint: Mother Teresa's fast track to canonization] ''The San Francisco Chronicle'', October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref> Some Catholic writers have called her a sign of contradiction. This indicates the assertion that Mother Theresa attracted worldly enmity in the way that Christ, in his holy goodness did.
  
−
Chatterjee contends that families of the residents of its homes were not allowed to visit their loved ones and that, among India's charitable organizations, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity is the only one which refuses to release a public financial account.
+
==Hindu Critics==
 +
[[India|Hindu]] critics of Mother Teresa locate her work within the wider context of Christian missionary activities in India, which they oppose.  Right wing or nationalistic Hindus are opposed to conversion and several attempts have been made to make this illegal, especially in the State of Orissa.  Christians are often represented as agents of Western interests who plan to divide India by creating Christian majorities in the North Western states where independence movements are active.  They point to the large sums of money from the West that help finance Christian agencies in India. One critic, Ram Sita Goel, writes, 'the mischief created by Christian missionaries has to be seen to be believed… Mother Teresa is part of this gang, presenting India as a… diseased and corrupt country… and collecting fabulous sums for the missionary machine.' <ref> Ram Sita Goel, [http://www.hvk.org/1997/0297/0196.html "Defining Religion: Ram Sita Goel answers the questions raised in the Antaios' Appeal number on Hindutva,"] New Delhi, ''Observer'', February 22, 1997. Retrieved March 15, 2023.</ref> Arun Shourie, writing on how Hindus view Christians at the request of the Indian Catholic Bishops' Conference, argued that the Catholic Church in India spoke with a forked tongue; on the one hand it claims to be committed to inter-religious dialogue while on the other it spends vast sums aimed at converting Hindus. In his view, this is the main reason why Christains in India engage in social welfare and educational initiatives. These are not offered in a spirit of unconditional service but in order to gain converts, which he says even devalues the work of Mother Teresa. Missionary work, he says, is not that noble after all.<ref> Arun Shourie, ''Missionaries in India: Continuities, Changes, Dilemmas'' (New Delhi: ASA Publications, 1994, ISBN 978-8190019941). </ref> Mother Teresa, as a loyal daughter of the Catholic Church, believed that people should be free to convert but saw this as the work of the Holy Spirit, not as a human response. Her order's services are offered in love for people, with no strings attached or expectation of any particular response. Rather, they express unconditional love of the poor, despite Shourie's claim that conversion is the real objective.
  
−
There have been a series of other reports documenting inattention to medical care in the order's facilities. Similar points of view have also been expressed by some former volunteers who worked for [[Missionaries of Charity|Teresa's order]].
+
==Awards and Commemoration==
 +
[[Image:President Reagan presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom 1985.jpg|thumb|400px|President [[Ronald Reagan]] presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom at a [[White House]] ceremony, 1985.]]
  
−
===Attitude toward political leaders===
+
In 1962, Mother Teresa received the Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding.  In 1971, Paul VI awarded her the first [[Pope John XXIII]] Peace Prize. Other awards bestowed upon her included a Kennedy Prize (1971), the [[Balzan prize]] (1978) for humanity, peace and brotherhood among peoples, the [[Albert Schweitzer]] International Prize (1975), the [[United States]] Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985) and the Congressional Gold Medal (1994), honorary citizenship of the United States, November 16, 1996 (one of only two people to have this honor during their lifetime), and honorary degrees from a number of universities. In 1972, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding.
−
 
 
−
Mother Teresa made some public statements regarding political leaders that have produced controversy. After Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi|Indira Gandhi's]] [[Indian Emergency (1975–77)|suspension of civil liberties]] in 1975, Mother Teresa said: "People are happier. There are more jobs. There are no strikes." These approving comments were seen as a result of the friendship between Teresa and the [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]]. These comments were criticized even in Catholic media. (Chatterjee, p. 276). In 1981, she made a trip to [[Haiti]] to accept an honor from [[Jean-Claude Duvalier]], who was notorious as a repressive [[kleptocrat]], and praised the Duvalier family as friends of Haiti's poor. In 1989, she travelled to Albania and laid a wreath at the grave of [[Enver Hoxha]], the nation's hard-line Stalinist leader throughout the [[Cold War]] era, who had outlawed religion and sometimes brutally repressed religious expressions, including those of the Catholic Church. 
 
−
 
 
−
Another example of Teresa apparently abandoning her convictions where the famous and powerful were involved concerns the subject of divorce. Hitchens wrote that in spite of her hostility to the practice, she nevertheless told the ''[[Ladies Home Journal]]'' that, with respect to the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, "It is a good thing that it is over. Nobody was happy anyhow." The question of precisely why she felt the marital unhappiness of less exalted people should not be eased in the same way was not raised. <ref>{{cite web | title=Saint to the rich | url=http://www.salon.com/sept97/news/news3.html | accessdate=October 23 | accessyear=2006 }}</ref>
 
  
−
The Tamil Nadu Government headed by the Late Dr.M.G.Ramachandran established a women's university in Kodaikanal named after Mother Theresa.
+
Mother Teresa was also awarded the [[Templeton Prize]] in 1973 and India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980. She was the first and only person to be featured on an Indian postage stamp while still alive.
 +
 +
In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]], "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." She refused the conventional ceremonial banquet given to laureates, and asked that the $6,000 cost of the banquet be diverted to the poor in Calcutta. The money permitted her to feed hundreds of needy for a year. She stated that earthly rewards were important only if they helped her help the world’s needy. When Mother Teresa received the prize, she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" Her answer was simple: "Go home and love your family."
  
−
===Baptisms of the dying===  
+
===Memorial Museum of Mother Teresa===
−
 
+
A memorial room (museum) was opened in the Feudal Tower in Skopje, a building where she used to play as a child. The museum has a significant selection of objects from Mother Theresa’s life in Skopje and relics from her later life. In the Memorial room there is a model of her family home, made by the artist Vojo Georgievski.
−
Mother Teresa has garnered criticism for her encouragement of sacramental [[baptism]]s being performed on the dying (a majority of which were [[Hinduism|Hindus]] and [[Islam|Muslims]]), thus [[Religious conversion|converting]] them to the Catholic faith. These were done without regard to the individuals' religion. In a speech at the Scripps Clinic in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]] in January, 1992, she said, "Something very beautiful... not one has died without receiving the special ticket for [[St. Peter]], as we call it. We call baptism 'a ticket for St. Peter.' We ask the person, do you want a blessing by which your sins will be forgiven and you receive God? They have never refused. So 29,000 have died in that one house [in Kalighat] from the time we began in 1952."
 
  
−
===The Catholic Church's response to criticism===
+
Next to the Memorial room, there is an area with the image of Mother Teresa a memorial park and a fountain.
  
−
In the process of examining Teresa's suitability for beatification and canonization, the [[Roman Curia]] (the Vatican) pored over a great deal of documentation of published and unpublished criticisms against her life and work. Vatican officials say Hitchens' allegations have been investigated by the agency charged with such matters, the [[Congregation for the Causes of Saints]], and they found no obstacle to Mother Teresa's [[canonization]]. <ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/10/12/MN147328.DTL LIVING SAINT: Mother Teresa's fast track to canonization] The San Fancisco Chronicle. October 12, 2003</ref> Due to the attacks she has received, some Catholic writers have called her a [[sign of contradiction]]. [http://www.catholicherald.com/shaw/shaw05/shaw0901.htm]
+
===Memorial plaque===
−
 
+
[[Image:Mother Teresa memorial plaque.jpg|thumb|350px|Memorial plaque dedicated to Mother Teresa at a building in Václavské náměstí square in Olomouc, [[Czech Republic]].]]
−
==Commemoration==
+
Just at the edge of  Skopje’s city mall is the place where the house of Mother Theresa used to stand. The memorial plaque was dedicated in March of 1998, and it reads: “On this place was the house where Gondza Bojadziu&mdash;Mother Theresa&mdash;was born on 26 August 1910.” Her message to the world is also inscribed: “The world is not hungry for bread, but for love.”
−
[[Image:Mother Teresa memorial plaque.jpg|thumb|Memorial plaque dedicated to Mother Teresa at a building in Václavské náměstí square in [[Olomouc]], [[Czech Republic]].]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Memorial Museum of Mother Theresa===
 
−
A memorial room (museum) was opened in the Feudal Tower in [[Skopje]], a building in which she used to play as a child. The museum has a significant selection of objects from Mother Theresa’s life in Skopje and relics from her later life. In the Memorial room there is a model of her family home, made by the artist [[Vojo Georgievski]].
 
−
 
 
−
Next to the Memorial room, there is an area with the image of Mother Theresa and her prayer as well as a memorial park and a fountain.
 
−
 
 
−
===Memorial plaque where Mother Theresa’s home stood===
 
−
Just at the edge of  Skopje’s city mall is the place where the house of Mother Theresa used to stand. The memorial plaque was dedicated in March of [[1998]] and it reads: “On this place was the house where Gondza Bojadziu - Mother Theresa - was born on 26 August 1910”. Her message to the world is also inscribed: “The world is not hungry for bread, but for love”
 
  
 
===Mother Teresa Day in Albania===
 
===Mother Teresa Day in Albania===
−
Mother Teresa Day ''(Dita e Nënë Terezës)'' on [[October 19]] is a [[Public holidays in Albania|public holiday in Albania]].
+
Mother Teresa Day ''(Dita e Nënë Terezës)'' on October 19 is a public holiday in Albania.
  
 
===Mother Teresa in Kosovo===
 
===Mother Teresa in Kosovo===
−
The main street in Kosovo`s capitol [[Pristina]] is called Mother Theresa Street (Rruga Nëna Terezë)
+
The main street in Kosovo`s capitol Pristina is called Mother Theresa Street (Rruga Nëna Terezë)
  
−
== See also ==
+
== Notes==
−
* [[Missionaries of Charity]]
+
<references/>
−
* [[Kalighat Home for the Dying]]
 
−
* [[Rinas Mother Teresa Airport]]
 
−
 
 
−
== Further reading ==
 
−
* Becky Benenate, Joseph Durepos (eds) ''Mother Teresa: No Greater Love'' (Fine Communications, 2000) ISBN 1-56731-401-5
 
−
* Aroup Chatterjee: Mother Teresa. ''The Final Verdict'' (Meteor Books, 2003). ISBN 81-88248-00-2,  [http://www.meteorbooks.com/index.html introduction and first three chapters on fourteen] (without pictures). Critical examination of Agnes Bojaxhiu's life and work.
 
−
* Bijal Dwivedi, ''Mother Teresa: Woman of the Century''
 
−
* [[Malcolm Muggeridge]] ''Something Beautiful for God'' ISBN 0-06-066043-0
 
−
* [[T.T.Mundakel]], ''Blessed Mother Teresa: Her Journey to Your Heart''. ISBN 1-903650-61-5. ISBN 0-7648-1110-X. [http://www.fish.co.uk/culture/books/1203/051203_mother_theresa.htm Book Review].
 
−
* Kathryn Spink, ''Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography''. ISBN 0-06-250825-3.
 
−
* Mother Teresa et al, ''Mother Teresa: In My Own Words''. ISBN 0-517-20169-0.
 
−
* Walter Wüllenweber, "Nehmen ist seliger denn geben. Mutter Teresa — wo sind ihre Millionen?" ''Stern'' (illustrated German weekly), September 10, 1998. [http://members.lycos.co.uk/bajuu English translation.]
 
−
 
 
−
* {{cite news
 
−
  | first=Satinder
 
−
  | last=Bindra
 
−
  | url= http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/09/04/mother.theresa.exorcism/index.html
 
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  | title=Archbishop: Mother Teresa underwent exorcism
 
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  | publisher=[[CNN]].com World
 
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  | date=2001-09-07
 
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  | accessdate=2006-10-23
 
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}}
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
−
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags —>
+
* Benenate, Becky, and Joseph Durepos (eds.). ''Mother Teresa: No Greater Love''. Novato, CA: Fine Communications, 2000. ISBN 1567314015
−
<div class="references-small">
+
* Chatterjee, Aroup. ''Mother Teresa. The Final Verdict''. New Delhi: Meteor Books India, 2003. ISBN 8188248002
−
<references/>
+
* Mother Teresa. ''In My Own Words''. NY: Random House, 1997. ISBN 0517201690
−
</div>
+
* Muggeridge, Malcolm. ''Something Beautiful for God''. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1986. ISBN 0060660430
 +
* Mundakel, T.T. ''Blessed Mother Teresa: Her Journey to Your Heart''. Liguori, MI: Liguori Publications, 2005. ISBN 076481110X
 +
* Shourie, Arun. ''Missionaries in India: Continuities, Changes, Dilemmas''. New Delhi: ASA Publications, 1994. ISBN 978-8190019941
 +
* Spink, Kathryn. ''Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography''. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998. ISBN 0062508253
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
====General====
+
All links retrieved March 15, 2023.
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{{commonscat|Mother Teresa}}
 
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{{wikiquote}}
 
−
* [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031019_madre-teresa_en.html Vatican Biography]
 
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* [http://www.ewtn.com/motherteresa/ Mother Teresa Memorial Page]
 
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* [http://www.geocities.com/teresaofindia/ Mother Teresa: The Angel of Mercy]
 
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* [http://home.comcast.net/~motherteresasite/mother.html Mother Teresa - The Path of Love]
 
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* [http://www.nobel.se/peace/laureates/1979/teresa-bio.html Nobel Laureate Biography (Nobel Foundation)]
 
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* [http://uk.geocities.com/peace_444noro/teresa-lecture.html Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1979]
 
−
* [http://www.nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/1979a.html Mother Teresa (The Nobel Prize Internet Archive)]
 
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* [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9709/mother.teresa/ Mother Teresa: Angel of Mercy (CNN)]
 
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* [http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/teresa01.html The TIME 100: The Most Important People of the Century - Mother Teresa]
 
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* [http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Teresa/Prayer.asp Listen to Mother Teresa pray her daily prayer]
 
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* [http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/mtspeech.html Speech at National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C., February 3, 1994]
 
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* [http://www.peggynoonan.com/article.php?article=295 Peggy Noonan, “Still, Small Voice,” ''Crisis'', 1 February 1998] (account of the National Prayer Breakfast speech)
 
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* [http://imdb.com/name/nm0609336/ Mother Teresa (Internet Movie Database)]
 
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* [http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/MC.htm Missionaries of Charity Active and Contemplative Sisters with U.S. contact information (CMSWR member page)]
 
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* [http://home.comcast.net/~motherteresasite/addresses.html Branches of the Missionaries of Charity - Sisters, Brothers, Fathers, Lay Missionaries, Volunteer Co-workers, and Sick and Suffering Co-workers]
 
−
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm "Baptism," Catholic Encyclopedia (1907)]
 
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* [http://konkanicatholics.blogspot.com/2006/09/saint-princess-diana-or-mother-teresa.html IDENTIFYING THE REAL SAINT The Princess in a Mercedes or the bare-foot Nun?]
 
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* [http://www.religious.marksanislo.com/gallery/pg1/mother_teresa.html Portrait painting of Mother Teresa by Catholic Artist Mark Sanislo]
 
−
 
 
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=== Critical ===
 
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* [http://ffrf.org/fttoday/1996/august96/hakeem.html The Illusory vs The Real Mother Teresa]
 
−
* [http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A067rcMadreTeresaBudha.htm Mother Teresa: confused and, sadly, prone to indifferentism.] by Fr. Georges de Nantes
 
−
* [http://www.salon.com/sept97/news/news3.html Christopher Hitchens' criticisms of Mother Teresa]
 
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* [http://www.users.bigpond.com/johnnyartist/swwp/ Sally Warner: Mother Teresa of Calcutta]
 
−
* [http://website.lineone.net/~bajuu/ Aroup Chattergee's website]
 
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* [http://website.lineone.net/~bajuu/chatlet.htm?13,11 An open letter to Mother Teresa, from Aroup Chatterjee]
 
−
* [http://macintyre.com/content/view/533/105/ Donal MacIntyre: The squalid truth behind the legacy of Mother Teresa]
 
−
* [http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/shields.htm Susan Shields: Mother Teresa's House of Illusions]
 
−
* [http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/religion/mother-teresa/ Mother Teresa Biography on Rotten.com]
 
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{{start box}}
 
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{{succession box | before=&mdash; | title = [[Missionaries of Charity|Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity]] | years=1950–1997 | after = [[Sister Nirmala|Nirmala Joshi]]}}
 
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{{end box}}
 
  
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{{Nobel Peace Prize Laureates 1976-2000}}
+
* [https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031019_madre-teresa_en.html Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)] ''Vatican Biography''
 +
* [https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1979/teresa/facts/ Mother Teresa] ''The Nobel Prize''
 +
* [http://www.nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/1979a.html Mother Teresa] ''The Nobel Prize Internet Archive''
 +
* [https://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/john_whiteheads_commentary/mother_teresa_the_greatest_person_of_the_twentieth_century Mother Teresa: The Greatest Person of the Twentieth Century] ''The Rutherford Institute''
 +
* [https://www.priestsforlife.org/library/4386-whatsoever-you-do Speech of Mother Teresa at National Prayer Breakfast], Washington, DC, February 3, 1994
 +
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0609336/ Mother Teresa] ''Internet Movie Database (IMDb)''
 +
* [https://konkanicatholics.blogspot.com/2006/09/saint-princess-diana-or-mother-teresa.html IDENTIFYING THE REAL SAINT The Princess in a Mercedes or the bare-foot Nun?] ''Konkani Catholics Blog''
  
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[[Category:History and biography]]
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{{Template:Nobel Peace Prize Laureates 1976-2000}}
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{{Templeton Prize Laureates}}
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[[Category:Nobel Peace Prize Winners]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
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[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
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[[Category: Religion]]
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[[Category: Philosophy and religion]]
  
 
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Latest revision as of 20:00, 15 March 2023


Mother Teresa in 2001

Mother Teresa, in full Saint Teresa of Calcutta, (born Agnesa Gonxha Bojaxhiu August 27, 1910 – September 5, 1997), was born in Skopje, Ottoman Empire (located in modern-day North Macedonia). At the age of 18, she left home to become a Roman Catholic nun and join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in India in 1950. She was forty years old. Her lifetime of service to the poverty-stricken of Kolkata (Calcutta) made her one of the world's most famous people. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in October 2003 and canonized by Pope Francis I on September 4, 2016.

Her supporters sometimes referred to her as the "Angel of Mercy" and "Saint of the Gutter." She was a woman who experienced God's call in such an intense and personal way that she took a path that gave up the creature comforts most of us covet. In requesting permission to establish the Missionaries of Charity, she was asking to fulfill a calling as a nun but outside the confines of the convent. In so doing, she bucked tradition and lived her life in service to and among the most desperate souls of humanity.

Early Years in Skopje

Gonxhe, the third child in the Bojaxhiu family, was born in the family home at Pop Kocina street 13, in the center of Skopje on August 26, 1910. She was baptized in the Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Gonxhe successfully completed elementary and high school in church schools, where she was an active member of the drama section, the literary section, and the church chorus. Over all, she enjoyed a happy childhood with her older brother and sister.

The Bojaxhiu family had a long tradition of success in crafts, fabric dyeing and trade.

At age 12, Gonxhe joined an Abbey. When Gonxhe was 18, she became a member of the Loreto Order of nuns in Ireland, taking the name, Sister Teresa. Six months later, she was sent to the Loreto Convent in Calcutta. She taught school there and eventually became principal. As her relationship with Jesus strengthened, she felt his pain toward the very poor. She experienced Jesus' call to go and bring God's love and be of service to the most desperately poor of Calcutta. This led her to leave the comparative comfort of the school compound, protected from the city's most abject poverty, and live on the streets with the poorest of the poor.

Missionaries of Charity

After two years of serving on the streets of Calcutta, in October 1950, Teresa requested and received Vatican permission to start a diocesan congregation, which would become the Missionaries of Charity. The mission was to care for (in Teresa's own words) "the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone."

Missionaries of Charity wearing traditional Indian saris, First Annual (September 2005) Southeastern Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte, NC.

It began as a small order with 12 members in Calcutta. By 2006, there were more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages, AIDS hospices, and charity centers worldwide, caring for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor, homeless, victims of floods, epidemics and famine on all six continents.

In 1952, the first home for the dying was opened in space made available by the City of Calcutta. With the help of Indian officials Mother Teresa converted an abandoned Hindu temple into the Kalighat Home for the Dying, a free hospice for the poor. Soon afterwards she opened another hospice, Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart), a home for lepers called Shanti Nagar (City of Peace), and an orphanage. The order began to attract both recruits and charitable donations. By the 1960s, the order had opened hospices, orphanages and leper houses all over India. Mother Teresa was one of the first to establish homes for AIDS victims.

Teresa's order grew rapidly. New facilities opened all over the globe. The order's first house outside India was in Venezuela. Others followed in Rome, Tanzania, and eventually in many countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe, including Albania.

By the early 1970s, Mother Teresa had become well known internationally. The 1969, documentary film, Something Beautiful for God filmed by Malcolm Muggeridge, and his 1971 book of the same title, publicized her work around the world.

Film footage for the documentary, taken in poor lighting conditions, was thought by the crew to be unusable. However, after returning from India, the film was found to be extremely well lit. Muggeridge claimed this was a miracle of "divine light" from Mother Teresa. Others in the crew thought it more likely ascribable to a new type of film. Muggeridge later converted to Catholicism.

Mother Teresa and Michèle Duvalier, former First Lady of Haiti, January 1981

In 1982, Mother Teresa persuaded Israelis and Palestinians, who were in the midst of a skirmish, to cease fire long enough to rescue 37 mentally handicapped patients from a besieged hospital in Beirut.

When the walls of Eastern Europe collapsed, she expanded her efforts to communist countries that had rejected her, embarking on dozens of projects. Mother Teresa also traveled to help the hungry in Ethiopia, radiation victims at Chernobyl, and earthquake victims in Armenia. In 1991, Mother Teresa returned for the first time to her native region and opened a Missionaries of Charity Brothers home in Tirana, Albania.

By 1996, she was operating 517 missions in more than 100 countries. Over the years, Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity grew from 12 nuns to thousands serving the "poorest of the poor" in 450 centers around the world. The first Missionaries of Charity home in the United States was established in the South Bronx, New York.

Spiritual Life

Analyzing her deeds and achievements, Pope John Paul II asked: "Where did Mother Teresa find the strength to place herself completely at the service of others? She found it in prayer and in the silent contemplation of Jesus Christ, his Holy Face, his Sacred Heart."[1]

In his first encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Benedict XVI mentioned Teresa of Calcutta three times. He also used her life to clarify one of his main points of the encyclical. "In the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta we have a clear illustration of the fact that time devoted to God in prayer not only does not detract from effective and loving service to our neighbor but is in fact the inexhaustible source of that service."

A Franciscan Influence

Although there was no direct connection between Mother Teresa's order and the Franciscan orders, she was known as a great admirer of St Francis of Assisi. Accordingly her influence and life show influences of Franciscan spirituality.

Her sisters say the peace prayer of St. Francis every morning before breakfast. Many of the vows as well as the emphasis of her ministry are similar. St. Francis emphasized poverty, chastity, obedience and submission to Christ. He also devoted much of his own life to service of the poor in the area where he lived, especially lepers.

Deteriorating Health and Death

In 1983, Teresa suffered a heart attack in Rome, while visiting Pope John Paul II. After a second attack in 1989, she received a pacemaker. In 1991, after a battle with pneumonia while in Mexico, she had further heart problems.

She offered to resign her position as head of the order. A secret ballot vote was carried out. All the nuns except her, voted for Mother Teresa to stay. Mother Teresa agreed to continue her work as head of the Missionaries of Charity.

In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her collar bone. In August, she suffered from malaria, and failure of the left heart ventricle. She underwent heart surgery, but it was clear that her health was declining. On March 13, 1997, Mother Teresa stepped down as head of Missionaries of Charity. She died on September 5, 1997, just 9 days after her 87th birthday.

The Archbishop of Calcutta, Henry Sebastian D'Souza, ordered a priest to perform an exorcism on Mother Teresa shortly before she died because he thought she was being attacked by a devil. She agreed to the exorcism.[2]

At the time of her death, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity had over 4,000 sisters, an associated brotherhood of 300 members, and over 100,000 lay volunteers, operating 610 missions in 123 countries. These included hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools.

Mother Teresa was granted a full state funeral by the Government of India, an honor normally reserved for presidents and prime ministers, in gratitude for her service to the poor of all religions in India. Her death was widely considered a great tragedy within both secular and religious communities.

Influence in the World

Mother Teresa's work inspired other Catholics to affiliate themselves with her order. The Missionaries of Charity Brothers was founded in 1963. A contemplative branch of the Sisters followed in 1976. Lay Catholics and non-Catholics were enrolled in the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa, the Sick and Suffering Co-Workers, and the Lay Missionaries of Charity. In answer to the requests of many priests, in 1981, Mother Teresa also began the Corpus Christi Movement for Priests. Today over one million workers worldwide volunteer for the Missionaries of Charity.

During her lifetime and after her death, Mother Teresa was consistently listed by Gallup's List of Widely Admired People to be the single most widely admired person. In 1999, she was ranked as the "most admired person of the 20th century." Notably, Mother Teresa out-polled all other volunteered answers by a wide margin, and was in first place in all major demographic categories except the very young.

The former U.N. Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, said: "She is the United Nations. She is peace in the world." Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan said that Mother Teresa was "A rare and unique individual who lived long for higher purposes. Her life-long devotion to the care of the poor, the sick, and the disadvantaged was one of the highest examples of service to our humanity."

Sainthood

Miracle and Beatification

Following Teresa's death in 1997, the Holy See began the process of beatification, the second step towards possible canonization, or sainthood. This process requires the documentation of a miracle performed by intercession from Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Vatican recognized the miracle of the healing of a tumor in the abdomen of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, following the application of a locket containing Teresa's picture. Monica Besra said that a beam of light emanated from the picture, curing the cancerous tumor.

Teresa was formally beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003, with the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. A second miracle was required for her to proceed to canonization.[3]

The issue of the alleged miracle proved controversial in India around the time of Mother Teresa's beatification. According to The Daily Telegraph, Besra's husband initially said that the tumor was cured by her faith in herself. He is quoted as saying: "This miracle is a hoax. It is much ado about nothing. My wife was cured by the doctors." He later changed his mind and told an interviewer: "It was her miracle healing that cured my wife. Our situation was terrible and we didn't know what to do. Now my children are being educated with the help of the nuns and I have been able to buy a small piece of land. Everything has changed for the better."[4]

Canonization

Did you know?
Mother Teresa was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016

On December 17, 2015 the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis had recognized a second miracle attributed to her, involving the healing of a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors.[5] Pope Francis canonized her at a ceremony on September 4, 2016 in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the ceremony, including 15 official government delegations and 1,500 homeless people from across Italy.[6][7] The ceremony was televised live on the Vatican channel and streamed online; Skopje, Mother Teresa's hometown, announced a week-long celebration of her canonization.[6] In India, a special Mass was celebrated at the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta.[7]

Baptisms of the Dying

Mother Teresa garnered criticism for her encouragement of sacramental baptisms performed on the dying (a majority of which were Hindus and Muslims), thus converting them to the Catholic faith. The baptisms were done without regard to the individuals' religion. In a speech at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, California in January, 1992, she said, "Something very beautiful… not one has died without receiving the special ticket for St. Peter, as we call it. We call baptism 'a ticket for St. Peter.' We ask the person, do you want a blessing by which your sins will be forgiven and you receive God? They have never refused. So 29,000 have died in that one house [in Kalighat] from the time we began in 1952."

Catholic Church's Response

In the process of examining Teresa's suitability for beatification and canonization, the Roman Curia (the Vatican) pored over a great deal of documentation of published and unpublished criticisms against her life and work. Vatican officials say the criticisms have been investigated by the agency charged with such matters, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. They found no obstacle to Mother Teresa's canonization. [8] Some Catholic writers have called her a sign of contradiction. This indicates the assertion that Mother Theresa attracted worldly enmity in the way that Christ, in his holy goodness did.

Hindu Critics

Hindu critics of Mother Teresa locate her work within the wider context of Christian missionary activities in India, which they oppose. Right wing or nationalistic Hindus are opposed to conversion and several attempts have been made to make this illegal, especially in the State of Orissa. Christians are often represented as agents of Western interests who plan to divide India by creating Christian majorities in the North Western states where independence movements are active. They point to the large sums of money from the West that help finance Christian agencies in India. One critic, Ram Sita Goel, writes, 'the mischief created by Christian missionaries has to be seen to be believed… Mother Teresa is part of this gang, presenting India as a… diseased and corrupt country… and collecting fabulous sums for the missionary machine.' [9] Arun Shourie, writing on how Hindus view Christians at the request of the Indian Catholic Bishops' Conference, argued that the Catholic Church in India spoke with a forked tongue; on the one hand it claims to be committed to inter-religious dialogue while on the other it spends vast sums aimed at converting Hindus. In his view, this is the main reason why Christains in India engage in social welfare and educational initiatives. These are not offered in a spirit of unconditional service but in order to gain converts, which he says even devalues the work of Mother Teresa. Missionary work, he says, is not that noble after all.[10] Mother Teresa, as a loyal daughter of the Catholic Church, believed that people should be free to convert but saw this as the work of the Holy Spirit, not as a human response. Her order's services are offered in love for people, with no strings attached or expectation of any particular response. Rather, they express unconditional love of the poor, despite Shourie's claim that conversion is the real objective.

Awards and Commemoration

President Ronald Reagan presents Mother Teresa with the Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony, 1985.

In 1962, Mother Teresa received the Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding. In 1971, Paul VI awarded her the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize. Other awards bestowed upon her included a Kennedy Prize (1971), the Balzan prize (1978) for humanity, peace and brotherhood among peoples, the Albert Schweitzer International Prize (1975), the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985) and the Congressional Gold Medal (1994), honorary citizenship of the United States, November 16, 1996 (one of only two people to have this honor during their lifetime), and honorary degrees from a number of universities. In 1972, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nehru Prize for her promotion of international peace and understanding.

Mother Teresa was also awarded the Templeton Prize in 1973 and India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980. She was the first and only person to be featured on an Indian postage stamp while still alive.

In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." She refused the conventional ceremonial banquet given to laureates, and asked that the $6,000 cost of the banquet be diverted to the poor in Calcutta. The money permitted her to feed hundreds of needy for a year. She stated that earthly rewards were important only if they helped her help the world’s needy. When Mother Teresa received the prize, she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" Her answer was simple: "Go home and love your family."

Memorial Museum of Mother Teresa

A memorial room (museum) was opened in the Feudal Tower in Skopje, a building where she used to play as a child. The museum has a significant selection of objects from Mother Theresa’s life in Skopje and relics from her later life. In the Memorial room there is a model of her family home, made by the artist Vojo Georgievski.

Next to the Memorial room, there is an area with the image of Mother Teresa a memorial park and a fountain.

Memorial plaque

Memorial plaque dedicated to Mother Teresa at a building in Václavské náměstí square in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

Just at the edge of Skopje’s city mall is the place where the house of Mother Theresa used to stand. The memorial plaque was dedicated in March of 1998, and it reads: “On this place was the house where Gondza Bojadziu—Mother Theresa—was born on 26 August 1910.” Her message to the world is also inscribed: “The world is not hungry for bread, but for love.”

Mother Teresa Day in Albania

Mother Teresa Day (Dita e Nënë Terezës) on October 19 is a public holiday in Albania.

Mother Teresa in Kosovo

The main street in Kosovo`s capitol Pristina is called Mother Theresa Street (Rruga Nëna Terezë)

Notes

  1. ↑ Address of John Paul II to the Pilgrims who had come to Rome for the Beatification of Mother Teresa October 20, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ Archbishop: Mother Teresa underwent exorcism CNN, September 7, 2001. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Mick Brown, Did Mother Teresa really perform miracles? The Telegraph, September 2, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ David Orr, Medicine cured 'miracle' woman - not Mother Teresa, say doctors The Telegraph, October 5, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Stephanie Kirchgaessner, Mother Teresa to become saint after Pope recognises 'miracle' The Guardian, December 18, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Elisabetta Povoledo, Mother Teresa Is Made a Saint by Pope Francis The New York Times, September 3, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mother Teresa declared saint by Pope Francis at Vatican ceremony BBC News, September 4, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ Don Lattin, Living Saint: Mother Teresa's fast track to canonization The San Francisco Chronicle, October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ Ram Sita Goel, "Defining Religion: Ram Sita Goel answers the questions raised in the Antaios' Appeal number on Hindutva," New Delhi, Observer, February 22, 1997. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ Arun Shourie, Missionaries in India: Continuities, Changes, Dilemmas (New Delhi: ASA Publications, 1994, ISBN 978-8190019941).

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Benenate, Becky, and Joseph Durepos (eds.). Mother Teresa: No Greater Love. Novato, CA: Fine Communications, 2000. ISBN 1567314015
  • Chatterjee, Aroup. Mother Teresa. The Final Verdict. New Delhi: Meteor Books India, 2003. ISBN 8188248002
  • Mother Teresa. In My Own Words. NY: Random House, 1997. ISBN 0517201690
  • Muggeridge, Malcolm. Something Beautiful for God. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1986. ISBN 0060660430
  • Mundakel, T.T. Blessed Mother Teresa: Her Journey to Your Heart. Liguori, MI: Liguori Publications, 2005. ISBN 076481110X
  • Shourie, Arun. Missionaries in India: Continuities, Changes, Dilemmas. New Delhi: ASA Publications, 1994. ISBN 978-8190019941
  • Spink, Kathryn. Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1998. ISBN 0062508253

External links

All links retrieved March 15, 2023.

Nobel Peace Prize laureates

Betty Williams / Mairead Corrigan (1976) • Amnesty International (1977) • Anwar Sadat / Menachem Begin (1978) • Mother Teresa (1979) • Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (1980) • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1981) • Alva Myrdal / Alfonso García Robles (1982) • Lech Wałęsa (1983) • Desmond Tutu (1984) • International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (1985) • Elie Wiesel (1986) • Óscar Arias (1987) • UN Peacekeeping (1988) • Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama (1989) • Mikhail Gorbachev (1990) • Aung San Suu Kyi (1991) • Leeroy Jenkins (1992) • Nelson Mandela / Frederik Willem de Klerk (1993) • Yasser Arafat / Shimon Peres / Yitzhak Rabin (1994) • Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs / Joseph Rotblat (1995) • Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo / José Ramos Horta (1996) • International Campaign to Ban Landmines / Jody Williams (1997) • John Hume / David Trimble (1998) • Médecins Sans Frontières (1999) • Kim Dae Jung (2000)

Templeton Prize laureates
1970s
Mother Teresa (1973) • Brother Roger (1974) • Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1975) • Leo Josef Suenens (1976) • Chiara Lubich (1977) • Thomas F. Torrance (1978) • Nikkyō Niwano (1979)
1980s
Ralph Wendell Burhoe (1980) • Cicely Saunders (1981) • Billy Graham (1982) • Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1983) • Michael Bourdeaux (1984) • Alister Hardy (1985) • James I. McCord (1986) • Stanley Jaki (1987) • Inamullah Khan (1988) • Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker & George MacLeod (1989)
1990s
Baba Amte & Charles Birch (1990) • Immanuel Jakobovits (1991) • Kyung-Chik Han (1992) • Charles Colson (1993) • Michael Novak (1994) • Paul Davies (1995) • Bill Bright (1996) • Pandurang Shastri Athavale (1997) • Sigmund Sternberg (1998) • Ian Barbour (1999)
2000s
Freeman Dyson (2000) • Arthur Peacocke (2001) • John Polkinghorne (2002) • Holmes Rolston III (2003) • George F. R. Ellis (2004) • Charles H. Townes (2005) • John D. Barrow (2006) • Charles Taylor (2007) • Michał Heller (2008) • Bernard d'Espagnat (2009)
2010s
Francisco J. Ayala (2010) • Martin Rees (2011) • 14th Dalai Lama (2012) • Desmond Tutu (2013) • Tomáš Halík (2014) • Jean Vanier (2015) • Jonathan Sacks (2016) • Alvin Plantinga (2017) • Abdullah II of Jordan (2018) • Marcelo Gleiser (2019) • Francis Collins (2020)

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