I am happy to learn that Mother Teresa will be canonised: Pranab Mukherjee

Mother will be canonised on Sept 4 at Vatican City.

In his message, the President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has said, "I am happy to learn that Mother Teresa will be canonised by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016 at Vatican City."

"Mother Teresa was an embodiment of compassion," Mukherjee said.

"She dedicated her entire life to serving the poorest of the poor as well as the destitute and forsaken," he said.

"Mother Teresa saw herself as ‘small pencil in the hands of the Lord’ and went about her work quietly, offering smiles and warm human gestures. Always dressed in a simple white, blue border sari, Mother Teresa undertook her work with great love and commitment. Mother Teresa provided dignity and respect to those who had been defeated by life," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee said she was a messiah of the poor and a pillar of support for the weak and suffering.

The President said: "Her simple manners touched the hearts of millions of people of all faiths."

"Mother Teresa believed that giving something of our self is what confers real joy and the person who is allowed to give is the one who receives the most precious gift," he said.

"She glorified her life with the dignity of humble service. In recognition of Mother Teresa’s selfless and dedicated services, a grateful nation conferred on her India’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ in 1980," Mukherjee said.

"Every citizen of India will take pride in the recognition being accorded to Mother Teresa for her service to humanity and God through this Canonization. Let the example of Mother Teresa inspire all of us to dedicate ourselves to the welfare of mankind,” he said.