ITALY/INDIA: MOTHER TERESA'S VISIT TO ROME UPDATE

(16 May 1997) Italian/Eng/Nat

Mother Teresa of Calcutta was given oxygen on her arrival at Rome airport on Friday.

But the 86-year-old Nobel prize winning nun was not said to be in a serious condition.

A doctor said she was just tired after the long flight from India.

Mother Teresa left Calcutta for the Vatican, Poland and the United States on Thursday.

It's the first time she has travelled abroad since suffering a life-threatening illness last year.

Looking frail -- but resilient -- Mother Teresa of Calcutta was wheeled through Rome airport Friday.

It was clear, however, that the 12 hour flight from India had taken its toll.

She had to be taken to a medical room on her arrival -- where she was given an hour of oxygen.

The world famous missionary and Noble prizewinner has fought against heart disease.

She has also been treated for kidney and lung problems recently.

Now back at work after months of illness, the 86-year-old Roman Catholic nun is in Rome to meet Pope John Paul II.

She'll also witness the profession of vows by new members of her Missionaries of Charity in ceremonies next week.

Before leaving the airport, Mother Teresa handed over four Indian children who had accompanied her to Italian adoptive parents.

For this woman, the combination of meeting Mother Teresa and receiving a new child was overwhelming.

SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
It's a rather difficult feeling to define but I think I'm really happy. I'm very happy and also a bit ... well ... we hope to be good parents to John.
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

Mother Teresa is also due to have a medical check up while in Rome.

She flew into Delhi en route to Rome.

Despite her age and fragile health, Mother Teresa has kept up a hectic schedule at her missions and orphanages in India and abroad.

Doctors however maintain that despite her recovery , extensive travelling might not be advisable for Mother Teresa's fragile health.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We wouldn't like to expose her too much definitely. I wouldn't recommend that to any of my 87-year-old patients to do a journey like she would like to do. And we have to make her understand that. Obviously she would love to do it. Otherwise for her there is no reason to be here. She has to fulfill her mission, she has to continue with her work."
SUPERCAPTION: Dr. Patricia Aubanel, cardiac surgeon

Earlier on Thursday , Mother Teresa was greeted by her admirers at the airport in Calcutta -- a city that knows her as the "Saint of the gutters" for her work among the dying and the destitute.

Travelling with her is Sister Nirmala, who succeeded her in March as the Head of the Missionaries of Charity -- as well as the four Indian children she took to Italy for adoption.

The worldwide Roman Catholic order that Mother Teresa founded in 1947 today has more than four-thousand nuns.

The mission runs 517 orphanages, homes for the poor, AIDS hospices and other charity centres.

Mother Teresa's condition will be closely monitored and all plans for future travel will depend on medical advice.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/54f03d6b556014b57e7df62f7bde7e54

Видео ITALY/INDIA: MOTHER TERESA'S VISIT TO ROME UPDATE канала AP Archive