Agreement Unlikely on Transfer of Mother Teresa’s Remains: Gomes
No request has been received from any quarter for transfer of Mother Teresa’s mortal remains to Albania, the country of her origin, said the Missionaries of Charity (MoC).
Salesian priest Father Robin Gomes, who ministers to the nuns in the Auxiliam parish, said that unless a specific request from any quarter in this regard is received, they cannot comment.
In addition, he said that the MoC, headquarters of Mother’s global order, would not, in all probability, acquiesce in any request of transfer of her remains outside her tomb, which is located in a room on the ground floor of the Mother House.
“It will not be fair to remove her remains from there,” Father Gomes said.
The statement came following some reports that Albania will step up negotiations with India over the issue.
On Friday, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government said that Albania wants the mortal remains of the Roman Catholic nun to be returned to the country.
According to Father Gomes, although the Nobel laureate is an Albanian, her order comprises priests and nuns from almost all countries and hence the request is not tenable.
He also observed that since Mother was an Indian citizen, the central government would not agree to the request for transfer outside of the country.
