history
Mother Teresa — the Albanian saint of Calcutta
Born Anjezë Bojaxhiu in 1910 to an Albanian family in Skopje, Mother Teresa is one of the most globally recognised Albanians. Tirana airport bears her name.
By myAlbania Editorial·April 28, 2026·2 min read
A national symbol
While she lived and worked in India, Mother Teresa's Albanian roots are a source of immense national pride. Her birth name was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, and she always considered herself ethnically Albanian.
Where she's honoured
- Tirana Airport — officially Mother Teresa International Airport.
- Mother Teresa Square — central Tirana, near the university.
- Statue and small museum at the airport entrance.
- The cathedral in Prishtina, Kosovo — also named for her.
She was canonised in 2016 by Pope Francis.