April 30, 2025

Misuse of Mother Teresa's name (Unauthorized Commercial Exploitation)

It has been brought to our attention that various organizations are using the name, words and image of Mother Teresa as well as the photos of the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity and their centers to claim or simulate their connection with Mother Teresa and their association or affiliation with us, the Missionaries of Charity for their own financial gain or other ambitious purposes.

We do wish to inform you that Mother Teresa never wished her name or image to be used in connection with any fundraising endeavors or solicitation of donations for any charitable work however praiseworthy, not even the works of her own religious order. Mother Teresa lived a life of simplicity and humility and for her own works of charity among the poorest of the poor, relied solely on God's Providence through the spontaneous free will offerings of generous donors. Mother Teresa reserved the right to use her name, words and image exclusively to the Missionaries of Charity (the religious order she founded), at the sole discretion of our Superior General. We, the Missionaries of Charity and the Mother Teresa Center (a non-profit organization established and directed to oversee Mother Teresa's intellectual property rights) continue to uphold her explicit wishes in this regard.

In spite of the efforts of Mother Teresa (during her lifetime) and of the Missionaries of Charity (after her death) many organisations continue misleading the public through their websites and social media platforms and therefore it is our duty to warn you to beware of sending donations to these organisations which falsely claim to be associated or affiliated with Mother Teresa or the Missionaries of Charity.

More announcements

March 28, 2026

Madre Teresa a Roma - a new documentary

"Madre Teresa a Roma" - a new documentary will air on RAI Documentari on Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026

March 28, 2026

Statement of Sr. M. Joseph MC, Superior General, regarding the use of Mother Teresa’s name

Statement of Sr. M. Joseph MC, Superior General, regarding the use of Mother Teresa’s name with the endorsement of Most Rev. Elias Frank, Archbishop of Calcutta