Mother Teresa remembered on her 10th death anniversary

Roman Catholic masses, candle processions and interfaith prayers were offered on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa. People also gathered voluminously at the tomb of Mother Teresa to pay tribute.

In 2003, Mother Teresa was beatified and declared “blessed” after the Vatican recognized a miracle of her healing a woman, Monica Besra. A second miracle will confirm the canonization and sainthood of Mother Teresa.

Pope Benedict XVI on the death anniversary called her a “real disciple of Christ” and urged her fellow missionaries to continue her work among the poor.

“Dear friends, the life and witness of this real disciple of Christ ... are an invitation to you and the whole church to always faithfully serve God in the poor and the needy,” said Pope, who greeted the 1,500 Missionaries of Charity members gathered in St. Peter’s Square

At an all–faith prayer meet organized at Mother House, Muslim, Hindu and Christian clerics read passages from their respective scriptures and prayed for harmony.

"Mother Teresa preached tolerance and showed us the way for communal harmony," said Muslim cleric Maulana Abdul Rahim.

Mother Teresa won a Noble Peace Prize in 1979 for her immense service among the poor and dying. The Missionaries of Charity presently has 4,800 nuns and 757 branches in 145 nations.