Sonia hails canonisation of Mother Teresa

New Delhi, Aug 30: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today hailed the proposed canonisation of Mother Teresa and said she would have attended the sacred ceremony at Vatican on September 4 if not been unwell.

In a letter, she thanked Pope Francis for granting recognition to Mother Teresa's work and said "it is homage to the woman who was the very embodiment of boundless compassion, mercy and grace."

Gandhi said, "Every citizen of India, including our nearly 20 million Catholics takes immense pride and joy on the recognition of Your Holiness and the Catholic Church of Mother Teresa's profound nobility of soul, purity of purpose, and service to God through service to humanity."

The Congress chief said the canonisation ceremony is an occasion for all Indians to give deep thanks that she spent her life in India, serving the poorest and the neediest.

"It is an occasion for us to draw inspiration from her life of selfless service, to learn from her how to practice compassion and loving kindness in our everyday lives; and to remind us that it is our foremost duty to do whatever we can to help ease the suffering and pain of our fellow human beings," the letter said.

Gandhi said Mother Teresa remains one of the "most revered, loved and admired" figures in India who was honoured with the highest award of Bharat Ratna.

She said senior Congress leaders Margaret Alva and Louzinho Faleiro would be representing the party at the ceremony to be held in the Vatican on September 4, when Pope Francis will declare Mother Teresa of Kolkata, a "saint".

PTI