Death of Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa died on 5 September 1997 in Kolkata, aged 87. A Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa was born Anjezë Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, and joined a religious order in Ireland before being sent to India. In Calcutta she taught at a school, and in 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity to care for the sick, the dying and the poor, which grew to operate in many countries. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and became a worldwide symbol of charity. Some critics questioned the quality of medical care in her homes and her views on abortion and contraception. She was declared a saint by Pope Francis in 2016.

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