[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
[October 1, 1996]
[Page 1736]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing Legislation Conferring Honorary United States 
Citizenship on Mother Teresa
October 1, 1996

    Today I am delighted to sign a resolution conferring honorary United 
States citizenship on Mother Teresa.
    In 1950, Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity. Since 
then, she has brought hope and love into the lives of millions of 
orphaned and abandoned children the world over. She has nursed the sick, 
cared for the poor, and shown us, through concrete actions, how we can 
make real our dreams for a just and good society.
    To be an American citizen is to share certain fundamental values: 
That we have a duty to help others live up to their God-given promise, 
that we have a responsibility to build up and reinforce the bonds of 
community, that we have an obligation to extend our hands to those who 
cannot always help themselves.
    By this measure, Mother Teresa is already an American citizen. I am 
proud to make it official.

Note: H.J. Res. 191, approved October 1, was assigned Public Law No. 
104-218.