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| Mother Teresa |
Today commemorates the 113th anniversary of the birth of the Albanian Nobel laureate, Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu.
Born in Skopje on August 26, 1910, amidst the Ottoman Empire's occupation of the country, Mother Teresa spent the majority of her life in India, where she dedicated herself to serving children and individuals in need.
Throughout her lifetime and in the posthumous period, she received numerous prestigious accolades worldwide. In 1962, she was honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize, and in 1979, she was bestowed with the Nobel Peace Prize.
On October 19, 2003, she attained beatification and the title of "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta." Subsequently, in 2015, Pope Francis canonized her.
Gonxhe Bojaxhiu passed away on September 5, 1997, yet her legacy endures, defined by the virtues she espoused, charitable endeavors, and her profound universal messages about the essence of life and human connections.
A figure of both contention and admiration during her life and posthumously, Mother Teresa garnered widespread reverence for her philanthropic endeavors.
Among the honors bestowed upon Mother Teresa:
Damian Dutton Award
1962 – Ramon Magsaysay Award
1973 – Templeton Award
1978 – Balzan Prize
1979 – Nobel Peace Prize
1980 – Bharat Ratna Award
1985 – Medal of Freedom Award
1996 – Honorary Citizen of the United States of America
1996 – Honorary Citizen Decoration of Kosovo
In 2003, Tirana Airport in Albania was christened "Mother Teresa Airport" in her honor. In 2007, her bust was inaugurated at the entrance of this airport.