Pope approves miracle for Mother Teresa's canonisation

Pope Francis has signed off on the miracle needed to make Mother Teresa a saint, giving the nun who cared for the poor one of the Catholic Church’s highest honours just two decades after her death.

The Vatican said Francis approved a decree attributing a miracle to Mother Teresa’s intercession during an audience on Thursday – his 79th birthday.

No date was set for the canonisation, but Italian media have speculated that the ceremony will take place in the first week of September.

It will coincide with the anniversary of her death, and taking place during Francis’ Holy Year of Mercy.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, died on September 5 1997, aged 87.