Dharamshala – Writing to the Mother Superior of the Missionaries of Charity, the Order founder by Mother Teresa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed delight that His Holiness the Pope proclaimed Mother Teresa a Saint.
In a letter dated September 5, 2016, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate wrote: "I rejoice at this recognition as an admirer of her dedicated service to humanity, particularly the way she cared for the poorest of the poor. I join you in celebrating her extraordinary life."
"Meeting Mother Teresa it was clear she was an exemplary person. I was reminded of this when I made a special visit to the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata last year to pay tribute to her and the Sisters' work," His Holiness stated
"She revealed the true practice of love in her charitable activities. Although she is no longer physically with us, her spirit lives on in the work you all do," said the spiritual leader of Tibet.
In conclusion His Holiness took the opportunity also to express his abiding respect for the humanitarian service of the Missionaries of Charity, praying that it may continue as long as there are poor among us who need help.
The Tibetan leader admired Mother Teresa and had the deepest respect for her. After meeting her, he said she was an example of a compassionate person. Often he told Buddhist monks and nuns to follow the example of Mother Teresa and serve the poorest of the poor in an imitation of her spirit.
Pope Francis has recently declared Mother Teresa of Calcutta, known as the "saint of the gutters" during her life, a saint, just 19 years after her death. Echoing his own vision of a "poor church for the poor", the pope described Teresa's work as "eloquent witness to God's closeness to the poorest of the poor".
Millions of Catholics revere the nun as a model of compassion and her legacy complements Pope Francis' vision of a humble Church that strives to serve the poor, and the festivities are a highlight of his Holy Year of Mercy, which runs until the beginning of November 2016.
Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Macedonia to Albanian parents and at 18 left for Ireland to join the Loreto Sisters. She was sent to India for her novitiate and remained there until making her final professions and eventually teaching as a Loreto Sister.
In 1946, she heard Christ calling her to be with the poor and abandoned, and within 18 months left the convent to a new mission that became a new order, the Missionaries of Charity.
