ROME — The beatification ceremony for Mother Teresa was a fitting tribute not only to a remarkable woman but also to a cause she championed so well: upholding the importance of human dignity.

The Oct. 19 ceremony was a global event that reflected her own willingness to serve the rich and poor, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Asian, American, European and African.

Pilgrims in wheelchairs lined the aisles, 3,000 of Rome's poor were given pride of place in front row seats, and religious from hundreds of congregations were in attendance.

In the days leading up to this formal recognition of her holiness, the final step before sainthood, 2,000 religious sisters followed her example, pitching tents outside Rome in order to be in solidarity with the poor.

The ceremony began shortly before 10 a.m. to the singing of Jubilate Deo. A dozen acolytes processed in front of Pope John Paul II, who was wheeled through the front of St. Peter's Basilica.

Hunched in his chair but alert, he passed down a red carpet lined with flowers to the front of the altar. There he beheld a view of an estimated 250,000 people who had streamed into the square since before dawn and stretched down the Via della Conciliazione as far as the eye could see.

To Pope John Paul's right was a sea of red and purple — hundreds of cardinals and bishops observing the ceremony. Not since the College of Cardinals was internationalized have so many Church leaders attended a beatification.

Presentation of the cause of Mother Teresa's beatification was soon underway and delivered by Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of Calcutta and postulator of her cause, Missionary of Charity Father Brian Kolodiejchuk.

Mother Teresa's successor as superior general, Sister Nirmala Joshi, and the head of the Missionaries of Charity's men's branches, Brother Jesu Das Mannoopparampil, formed the procession of the Veneration of the Relics, which included a vial of Mother Teresa's blood.

In what seemed a short time, the decree was passed, and the Gloria was sung. To resounding cheers and applause a covering of a large canvas draped over the front of the basilica was raised, revealing a striking image that captured Mother Teresa's familiar, joyful wrinkled face.

IMAGE OF SAMARITAN

Pope John Paul's entire homily in English and Italian was read for him — the first time this has happened. He affirmed that Blessed Teresa was that “image of the Good Samaritan, going everywhere to serve Christ in the poorest of the poor. Neither conflicts nor wars could stop her.

“The witness of her life,” the Pope continued, “reminds all people that the evangelical mission of the Church passes through charity.” He specifically chose this day, Mission Sunday, for Blessed Teresa's beatification.

Referring to the Gospel reading — “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” — he said Blessed Teresa had chosen to be not just “the least” but to be “the servant of the least.”

He recalled her long years of “interior darkness” in which she could not feel the presence of God and which he called a “heartbreaking test.” During such deep spiritual anguish she would pray before the Blessed Sacrament which, the Pope said, “brought her to identify herself even more with those whom she daily served, experiencing their distress and even, at times, their rejection.”

Pope John Paul concluded his remarks, praising “this little woman in love with God” and called on Mary's intercession to help us follow her example in serving with humility “in joy and with a smile every person we meet.”

The Liturgy of the Eucharist that followed reflected the diversity of those who were drawn by Blessed Teresa's witness. Prayers were given in Bengali, Albanian, and French. Indian girls in white and gold saris participated in the offertory procession and, preceding the Lord's Prayer, the air was filled with an Indian hymn sung to exotic-sounding tabla, harmonium and bells.

As the ceremony concluded with a papal blessing, the vast crowd erupted in cheers and thunderous applause. Deacon Eroy Martinez from New Mexico was particularly moved: “It was beautiful, I loved it. It was nice that they proclaimed the Gospel in the different languages — that way it touches everyone … it reflects unity for the people.”

A Missionary of Charity sister from Kenya who did not give her name said the order had been preparing for the event for over a year. “We've been praying for everyone to be drawn to Mother's example and come to know the love of Jesus,” she said.

“It was wonderful,” remarked Archbishop Peter Smith of Wales. “Mother Teresa was a real icon for what the Church is called to do, especially now in this globalized world.

“That she suffered a dark night of the soul is an enormous encouragement to people, especially those doubting whether God really does love them,” he said.

“Mother Teresa has made history and will continue to make history,” said John Moses from Charlotte, N.C., who made the pilgrimage with his wife just for the occasion.

Jim Chestness, a parish youth worker from Palm Beach, Fla., said Blessed Teresa's life was one “worth emulating in terms of service to others, giving of oneself and giving back to Christ who has given so much to us.”

There was plenty of praise for the Pope, whose visible suffering only seemed to make him more popular. “In his weakness, he shows power and strength,” noted Deacon Martinez.

He still found the energy to visit the crowds in the “popemobile” at the end of the ceremony to chants of Viva il Papa. In the evening, a short fireworks display was held at the Vatican to celebrate his jubilee.

But neither Mother Teresa nor the Pope would claim any of this adulation for themselves. Retired Archbishop Henry De Souza of Calcutta recalled Blessed Teresa's response when asked if she felt she had done tremendous work in founding over 600 foundations.

“No, God created them out nothingness,” he remembers her saying. “I am a pencil in God's hands and in spite of our inadequacies, God writes beautifully when we offer ourselves to him.”

Edward Pentin writes from Rome.