Mother Teresa to step down as head of charity

January 13, 1997
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT)

CALCUTTA, India (CNN) -- Mother Teresa plans to step down after 47 years as head of the religious order she founded.

The 86-year-old Roman Catholic nun tried to leave her post as Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity in 1990, but the nuns re-elected her anyway. They are expected to respect her wishes at a vote to choose the order's leader on February 2.

An aide said Mother Teresa's health is her chief concern. She was hospitalized twice in the latter half of last year, once to undergo surgery to remove arterial blockage following a heart attack

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related stories:

• Mother Teresa given mild heart shock - December 16, 1996
• Doctors give Mother Teresa's heart mild shock - December 11, 1996
• Mother Teresa still critical; doctors postpone heartbeat treatment - December 1, 1996

Related site:

Note: Page will open in a new browser window

• Mother Teresa: a brief biography

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

Tell us what you think! You said it...

© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.