Mother Teresa's global appeal brings the world to her beatification

Published: 2003-10-20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- They came from New Zealand and New Delhi, Argentina and Australia, the Philippines and Philadelphia. About 300,000 people gathered from around the world Oct. 19, crowding St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets to celebrate the beatification of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The global work of the founder of the Missionaries of Charity was reflected in the range of nations represented in the congregation. Even more striking was how many of those 300,000 people felt a personal connection to the tiny nun who died six years ago. Nearly all described their affection for her in the present tense, as if she were beside them: "Mother loves the poor," or "Mother Teresa guides me." Father Joselee Cyrakkove of Kerala, India, described her international appeal. "For any Christian, this is an important day," he said. "For Indians it is very special. She had Albanian blood, Italian citizenship and worked in India, but she was a figure for the whole world. Her secret was she understood the message of Christ, which is to love Christ and find Christ in the poor."

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