115th Birth Anniversary of St Mother Teresa | 28 Aug 2025

Why in News?

The 115th birth anniversary of Saint Mother Teresa was celebrated on 26th August 2025, at Mother’s House, Kolkata. 

Key Facts About Mother Teresa

• Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje, Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor. 
  • Her journey began at the age of 12 when she felt called to serve as a missionary.
• In 1928, at the age of 18, she moved to India, where she took her vows in 1931. For 17 years, she taught at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta. 
• Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity on 7th October 1950, after receiving approval from the Vatican. 
  • Her order, which expanded globally, focuses on caring for the destitute, including refugees, the elderly, and those suffering from AIDS, among others.
• By the 1990s, the Missionaries of Charity had over one million Co-Workers across 40 countries, spreading Mother Teresa’s spirit of compassion.
  • She received numerous accolades, including the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), the Nehru Prize (1972), and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her tireless work in promoting peace and understanding.
• Mother Teresa passed away on 5th September 1997, leaving behind a lasting legacy of compassion and service. 
  • She was canonized (declared as a saint) by Pope Francis in 2016, further cementing her status as one of the most beloved humanitarian figures in the world.