'Silver I have not, I am sending my sisters': Mother Teresa visits Birmingham to find hostels for the poor. Haydn Price reports
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MOTHER TERESA of Calcutta arrived in Birmingham yesterday, choosing to meet local people and priests rather than civic dignitaries. She wanted to view potential properties for establishing a Midland branch of her order, the Missionaries of Charity.
She was invited to Birmingham by the city's Roman Catholic Archbishop, the Most Rev Maurice Couve de Murville, to minister to the poor and to help the increasing numbers of homeless.
She was met by about 90 cheering well-wishers at St Chad's Cathedral. She told Peter Pargeter, the bishop who met her: 'Silver and gold I have not to give you, but I am sending my sisters.'
Mother Teresa, 82, viewed five properties. 'Some of them are too big, we would get lost in them; we are only small people,' she said.
Sir Richard Knowles, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: 'Mother Teresa can bring to Birmingham what local authorities can't - love, prayer and charity.'
Council chiefs say they may be willing to discuss 'the possibility of one of the council blocks of flats being rehabilitated and used by homeless families' and run by her order.
Mother Teresa had a 30-minute meeting with Cardinal Basil Hume, attending a conference in the city.
Tomorrow she travels to Rome on her way to India.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments