Mother Teresa, born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun and saint, known for founding the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. Key aspects of her life and work include: Early life and calling: Born in 1910 in Skopje, Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), she felt a calling to religious life at a young age, inspired by stories of missionaries in Bengal. She joined the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland to learn English, with the intention of becoming a missionary in India. She arrived in India in 1929 and began her novitiate in Darjeeling. Founding the Missionaries of Charity: In 1946, she experienced a "call within a call" to serve the poor while living among them, leading to her departure from the Loreto convent and the establishment of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The order's habit was a white sari with two blue borders. The congregation took vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and a fourth vow to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor". Work with the poor: The Missionaries of Charity focused on serving the "hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers". They managed homes for those dying from HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis, and ran soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, orphanages, and schools. Expansion and international charity: Over the decades, the Missionaries of Charity grew to operate in over 133 countries. Mother Teresa made trips outside India for humanitarian reasons, including rescuing children during the Siege of Beirut in 1982. She also expanded her efforts to Communist countries in the late 1980s, visiting Armenia after the 1988 earthquake. Recognition and awards: She received numerous honours, including the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize in 1962, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, and the Bharat Ratna in 1980. She declined the conventional Nobel banquet and requested that the money be given to the poor in India. She was also awarded honorary degrees from universities in India and the West. In 1996, she was awarded honorary American citizenship. Controversies and criticisms: Mother Teresa was also a controversial figure, criticised for her opposition to abortion, divorce, and contraception, as well as the conditions in her houses for the dying. Critics accused her of promoting a "cult of suffering," misusing funds, and conducting unethical conversions. Some also disputed the miraculous nature of healings attributed to her intercession. Some have argued that she did not address the systemic causes of poverty, but was content to "pick up the sad pieces". Spiritual life: Mother Teresa experienced periods of spiritual doubt and emptiness, which she documented in letters to her confessors and superiors. Despite these doubts, her faith remained central to her work, and she emphasized the importance of prayer. Canonization: After her death in 1997, the Vatican began the process of beatification and canonization. She was beatified in 2003 and canonized as a saint in 2016, after the recognition of two miracles attributed to her intercession. She was named co-patron of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta in 2017. Legacy: Mother Teresa's life and work have inspired numerous books, documentaries, and films. She is commemorated by museums, churches and has had buildings, roads, and complexes named after her. Her work is continued by the Missionaries of Charity, who continue to serve the poor and marginalized around the world.

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