Saint Teresa declared co-patron of Archdiocese of Calcutta

Kolkata: Two days after the first anniversary of her sainthood, Mother Teresa was declared the co-patron of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta at a special mass here.

The decree was read out on Wednesday by the vicar general of the archdiocese Dominique Gomes during the mass at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary.

Ambassador of the Vatican to India Reverend Giambattista Diquattro attended the mass held a day after the nun's 20th death anniversary.

According to Thomas D'Souza, the Archbishop of Calcutta, every diocese has a patron and the Calcutta archdiocese is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier.

"We wanted to make Mother our co-patroness. We seek her intercession and give her the prominence that is due especially in a city like a Calcutta and the archdiocese of Calcutta," D'Souza told IANS.

In 2003, Mother Teresa was beautified as "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta".

She was declared a Saint by Pope Francis before over 1.20 lakh devotees at the Vatican on September 4, becoming one of the fastest Saints in the history of the Catholic church.