Mother Teresa

1910–1997 · Albanian (born Skopje, lived in India) · 20th Century

Known for: The most famous nun in history — cared for the dying poor of Calcutta and became the face of Christian charity worldwide

Mother Teresa (Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) was an Albanian-born Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, dedicating her life to serving 'the poorest of the poor.' Her organization grew to over 4,500 sisters running hospices, orphanages, and AIDS clinics in 133 countries. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was canonized as a saint in 2016.

Her legacy is contested: supporters see her as a living saint; critics (notably Christopher Hitchens) argue she glorified suffering, provided poor medical care, converted the dying, and maintained friendships with dictators. Her private letters, published posthumously, revealed decades of spiritual doubt and a feeling of God's absence — making her a more complex figure than her public image suggested.

Browse all 1,000 figures by category

Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.