Mamata Banerjee to attend Mother Teresa's canonisation

Pope Francis had announced in March that Mother Teresa will be canonised on September 4

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said she will attend the canonisation of Mother Teresa in Vatican on September 4.

Banerjee's decision followed an invitation extended to her by the Mother's Catholic congregation Missionaries of Charity Superior General Sister Prema earlier in the day.

"I have accepted Sr Prema's invitation to be present at the canonisation of blessed Mother Teresa in Rome on 4 Sep," Banerjee said in a tweet.

The chief minister will be accompanied by Sister Prema, Calcutta Archdiocese Archbishop Thomas D'Souza and several other dignitaries and individuals connected to the MoC global headquarters Mother House here.

Monica Besra, a tribal woman from West Bengal's South Dinajpur district, whose 'miracle' cure was instrumental in Mother's beatification, is also expected to accompany the delegation to the Vatican.

Pope Francis announced in March that the Mother would be canonised on September 4, the eve of her 19th death anniversary.

Known across the world as the Mother, Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor, sick, old and lonely in the slums of Kolkata.

She died on September 5, 1997, and was beatified just six years later by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003.