TIRANA, September 5 – Albania honors Mother Teresa today, remembering her life of service to the poor and sick. Her work made her one of the world’s most recognized humanitarian figures. September 5 is observed as the Day of Sanctification of Mother Teresa, an official national holiday that reflects her lasting place in Albania’s identity and collective memory.
Her legacy remains closely linked to her Albanian roots and her return to the country after decades away. Born Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje on August 26, 1910, she came from an Albanian Catholic family. She first visited Albania from August 14 to 17, 1989. She returned from December 1 to 5, 1990.
After the fall of communism, Mother Teresa strengthened her ties with Albania. She sought to establish a Missionaries of Charity house in Tirana. The first house opened on March 4, 1991. Two years later, she was in Tirana during Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Albania on April 25, 1993. The Pope publicly honored her as a daughter of the Albanian people.
Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She died in Calcutta on September 5, 1997, aged 87. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 2003, and Pope Francis canonized her on September 4, 2016.
For Albania, September 5 is more than a date on the calendar. It is a day to honor Mother Teresa, her Albanian heritage and the enduring legacy of compassion and service associated with her name.
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