by card. Oswald Gracias

“I had a very intense friendship with Mother. We spent many long hours together on several occasions,” the archbishop of Mumbai told AsiaNews. “[W]e shared our deepest joys and our concerns.” For him, “Mother is India’s gift to the world, the secular and Christian worlds.” Indeed, “Her canonisation will concretely highlight the call to mercy”.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – I am delighted and overjoyed for this great gift, which is the epitome of the highest mercy.

I had a very intense friendship with Mother. We spent many long hours together on several occasions: walking around the seminary, in my office, and in many other places.

Every time we met, we shared our deepest joys and our greatest concerns. She was a dear friend of mine.

Mother is India’s gift to the world, to the secular world as well as the Christian world. Everyone, without distinction of religious affiliations, loves her.

Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, non-believers, even atheists love Mother intensely. They love her and her voice of compassion and passionate love for the poor and the marginalised.

Mother truly lived a life of mercy; every day of her life was a year of Mercy. Her canonisation will concretely highlight the call to mercy in the 21st century.

Mother is a model we all have to follow. This is the best Christmas present I ever received.

• india
• mother
• teresa
• canonisation