New Delhi: India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will lead a delegation to Rome to attend the canonization of Mother Teresa on September 4.
“In view of the importance we attach to canonization of Mother Teresa, Government of India’s delegation will be led by the External Affairs Minister. The composition of the delegation is presently being finalized,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters in New Delhi on July 28.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have accepted the invitation of Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charity to attend the ceremony in the Vatican City.
The ministry spokesperson, however, did not disclose whether Mamata and Kejriwal would be part of the official delegation.
Swarup also said the other members of the delegation are yet to be decided.
On July 27, a senior Delhi government official had said that Kejriwal will be travelling to the Vatican as he has accepted the invitation of Missionaries of Charity to attend the event.
Kejriwal had worked with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata before he joined the Indian Revenue Service.
The announcement regarding Mother Teresa canonization was made by the Pope on March 15 in what is called an “ordinary public consistory” or a meeting of the Pope, cardinals and promoters of sainthood causes that formally ends the sainthood process.
The day chosen for Mother Teresa’s canonization is the eve of her 19th death anniversary and the date previously established by the Vatican for the conclusion of the Year of Mercy pilgrimage of people like her who are engaged in works of mercy.
The Indian team’s trip to Rome assumes additional significance as it would be India’s first important official engagement with Italy in four years.
Bilateral relations between the two nations almost came to a standstill following the arrest of two Italian marines on the charges of killing two Kerala fishermen, and the Agusta scam.