Pope Francis finalizes Mother Teresa sainthood, sets Sept. 4 canonization

Pope Francis is about to make Mother Teresa a saint — (Image credit: Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, Pope Francis will formally sign the canonization decree for Mother Teresa and four other soon-to-be Catholic saints, according to Vatican Radio. The dates and venues for the canonization ceremonies will be announced at the signing event. Francis approved Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity order and 1979 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, in December 2015, after the Vatican recognized her second miracle, interceding to heal a Brazilian man with multiple brain abscesses. Mother Teresa had been fast-tracked for sainthood by Pope John Paul II in 2003. Mother Teresa, born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu‎ to Albanian parents in present-day Macedonia, was known for her work feeding and caring for the poor in India. She died in 1997.

UPDATE: Pope Francis said that Mother Teresa will be canonized on Sept. 4.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.