First phase of Mother Teresa's canonisation completed

The first phase of a process expected to lead to Mother Teresa being declared a saint has been completed.

Vatican' chief investigator, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, has completed the first phase in the cause for the beatification and canonisation of Mother Teresa.

The Archbishop of Calcutta, Henry D'Souza, announced the news at a special ceremony at St. Mary's Church in Calcutta.

Father Kolodiejchuk said he was overwhelmed by the findings which took him more than two years and he interviewed hundreds of people.

"She (Mother Teresa) wasn't an ordinary person," Father Kolodiejchuk said.

"This inquiry will reveal more unknown facets of her life and work," Father Kolediejchuk said.

The Vatican will now examine a 34,000 page report containing several hundred miracles believed to have been performed by Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa, who set up her Missionaries of Charity order in 1950, died in 1997 at the age of 87.