Sister Nirmalac grieves for Pope

From Upali Ranasinghe in Kolkata

"NOW there will be no one at the Vatican to address me by my name, grieved Sister Nirmala, head of the Missionaries of Charity, who seemed badly affected by the Pope's death as the latter had India very close to heart. The Pope loved Kolkata where Mother Teresa lived.

"The Holy Father used to call me Nirmala. It was an very much honour to me. He had a great love for the Mission as well as its services."

The Holy Father had a great role of play in Mother Teresa's beatification," said Sister Nirmala who organised special prayers at the Mother's house in Kolkata for three days until the Pope's funeral is over. From Sunday these special prayers were attended by people from all over the city, including hundreds of tourists.

Pope John Paul II visited Mother Teresa in 1986 and had frequent communication with her when she was ill.

Sister Nirmala will be leaving for Rome on Tuesday morning to attend the funeral.