c. 1997 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ In striking testimony to her ability to use love to transcend religious and political divisions, Mother Teresa’s life and ministry was lauded by a host of world and religious leaders following her death Friday (Sept. 5) in Calcutta, India.

At his vacation residence in Castelgandolfo, Italy, Pope John Paul II said he was”deeply moved and pained”by the death of the 87-year-old nun, who won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize for her work among the world’s most destitute and vulnerable individuals, regardless of their faith.”The pope was deeply hurt because he was very close to this sister who dedicated her life to helping people in the world who were the poorest, the most neglected and the abandoned,”said the Rev. Ciro Benedettini, a deputy Vatican spokesman.”The pope believes she is a woman who has left her mark on the history of this century,”said Benedettini, indicating that the pontiff would celebrate a Mass for the repose of Mother Teresa on Saturday. He said she was a”luminous example of love”among those most in need.

President Clinton, vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., called Mother Teresa”an incredible person.””Hers was a ministry of action _ of passion and compassion. She led by serving, and showed us the stunning power of simple humility.” In Washington, the House of Representatives observed a moment of silence in honor of Mother Teresa.

Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland, president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference, called Mother Teresa’s life”a lesson in love.””She taught all _ from youth groups to governments _ though piety and charm, wisdom and simplicity. As small and soft-spoken as she was, her reach was large and her message heard around the world.” The Rev. Billy Graham said”few people in our time exemplified so powerfully and yet simply the love and compassion of Christ as Mother Teresa. … The whole world, regardless of religious background, admired Mother Teresa and will miss her.” Rabbi A. James Rudin, interreligious affairs director for the American Jewish Committee, said,”There are many in the world of religion who either profess, play at, or postulate being servants of God. I found Mother Teresa to be one of the few real servants of God I’ve ever seen. She was very much the genuine article.” More pointedly _ and perhaps poignantly _ those who shared in her work among the poor voiced tribute to her work.

Sharon Daly, deputy for social policy of Catholic Charities USA, said Mother Teresa belied the general perception of her.”People think of this modest little person but you don’t found an international religious order and institutions around the world by being simply modest and self-effacing,”said Daly.”You have to be unflagging in your devotion, you have to have enormous endurance, and she had all of those.” Daly learned of Mother Teresa’s death during her organization’s annual meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla. People attending the meeting responded with prayers for the Nobel laureate.”People are not just sad,”she said.”People are proud that this woman came out of our own religious tradition and … in a way legitimized the work of Catholic Charities.” Leaders of other, non-Catholic aid agencies also voiced their admiration for Mother Teresa.”In a world short of heroes, Mother Teresa has shone out as a star in a darkened firmament _ her life of self-sacrifice demonstrates that one person seeking to love God and serve his world can make an unforgettable difference for millions,”said Clive Calver, president of World Relief, the disaster response and refugee assistance arm of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Robert A. Seiple, president of World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization, agreed.”Mother Teresa brought gifts of love and compassion to poor, sick and oppressed people _ people many of us choose to ignore,”he said.”Her gifts were wrapped in the love of God and, through her efforts, we saw God’s work here on earth.” Many reactions singled out Mother Teresa’s ministry to people with AIDS.”Perhaps Mother Teresa’s most lasting contribution to our world will be a reminder that each of us is called to love others as God loves: unconditionally,”said the Rev. Troy D. Perry, elder of the gay and lesbian-oriented Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Churches.

The Rev. Ken South, executive director of the AIDS National Interfaith Network, said Mother Teresa’s work with AIDS sufferers demonstrated how to help others.”She was also this kind of beacon of compassion,”said South.”Everybody could identify with her.” Mary LaBarre, director of pastoral studies at the University of Portland, a Catholic institution in Oregon, said Mother Teresa focused more on being compassionate to the individual than railing at the governmental, educational and hospital systems that might have contributed to a climate of need.”She was never heard to criticize the systems that made this suffering happen,”LaBarre said.

But she did encourage other individuals to relieve suffering.

LaBarre recalled that when Mother Teresa was honored at the United Nations, the nun uttered the Prayer of St. Francis, which includes such thoughts as”Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console.””People in tuxedos and diamonds had to think, `What am I doing to be a channel of God’s love on earth?'”LaBarre said.

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In other reaction:

_ Francis Sejersted, chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee:”Her’s is one of the awards we look back on with great joy and satisfaction.” _ The Rev. Edward A. Malloy, president of the University of Notre Dame:”She simply and lovingly served God by serving his weakest children. Her example of selfless devotion to the poorest of the poor will live forever.” _ The Rev. Daniel Vestal, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a moderate Baptist group:”I remember asking what she wanted to be remembered for. … She said simply … `I love the poor people.’ She was one of those people who was an example to us all.” _ Bishop H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:”Mother Teresa once said, `Do something beautiful for God.’ She has shown us all that true greatness lies in serving others, and her life embodied that Christian conviction.” _ Gordon Hinkley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:”Her acts of Christian goodness will stand as a memorial for generations to come.”

MJP END RNS