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Kolkata, Sep 7, 2017 : St Teresa was declared the co-patron of the Archdiocese of Calcutta today, 131 years after St Francis Xavier.

"We now officially declare St Teresa of Calcutta as the co-patron of Archdiocese of Calcutta," Vicar General, Archdiocese of Calcutta, Chancellor Fr Dominic Gomes read out from a decree in the presence of the Vatican's ambassador to India, Most Rev. Giambattista Diquattro, bishops from across the state and nuns of the Missionaries of Charity, which was founded in the city by St Teresa.

The solemn and pious occasion, which lasted for an hour- and-a-half, was attended by all the bishops from Bengal, along with nuns, Diquattro and the archbishop in the Catholic cathedral on Portuguese Church Street in central Kolkata.

A statue of St Teresa was also unveiled inside the church on the occasion by the Vatican ambassador in the presence of the vicar general and archbishop.

St Francis Xavier was declared the first patron when the Archdiocese of Calcutta was established in 1886.

Speaking after the decree was read out, Diquattro expressed Vatican's approval saying, "She (St Teresa) showed us the way of life...as ordained by Jesus Christ."

Archbishop of Calcutta Thomas D'Souza said, "Every diocese in the world has a patron. St Francis Xavier has been our patron here since 1886 when the Archdiocese of Calcutta was established. Since Mother Teresa belonged to our own Calcutta, we have decided to declare her our co-patron."

The decision was taken to commemorate the first anniversary of St Theresa's canonisation, the archbishop said.