Macedonia / India: Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu (1910-1997, left), better known as 'Mother Teresa of Calcutta' (Kolkata) as a young girl in Albanian costume, Skopje, 1920s

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, commonly known as Mother Teresa (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), was a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary[4] who lived most of her life in India. She was born in what is today Macedonia, with her family being of Albanian descent originating in Kosovo.

Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation, which in 2012 consisted of over 4,500 sisters and is active in 133 countries. They run hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis; soup kitchens; dispensaries and mobile clinics; children's and family counselling programmes; orphanages; and schools. Members must adhere to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as well as a fourth vow, to give 'wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor'.

Mother Teresa was the recipient of numerous honours including the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2003, she was beatified as 'Blessed Teresa of Calcutta'. A second miracle credited to her intercession is required before she can be recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church.

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