On September 5, 1997, Mother Teresa died of a heart attack in Calcutta at the age of 87.

Born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Macedonia, she arrived in India in 1929 as a missionary of the Loreto community. Dedicating her life to the service of the poor, she established the The Missionaries of Charity in 1950 in Kolkata, which now runs old-age homes and orphanages in over 130 countries.

Although her work and views were often met with criticism, Mother Teresa's humanitarian work made her a figure of world peace. Her funeral was attended by leaders from all over the world.