State presence at Mother Teresa's funeral undecided

As Mother Teresa continued to lie in state in Calcutta, thousands crowded into the city to file past her coffin and pay their last respects. Meanwhile, the Irish Government indicated it had not yet decided whether to send a representative to the funeral next Saturday, according to a spokeswoman.

No decision had been made last night on whether to send a representative and whether that representative would be a Government minister, she said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Indian government had not issued any specific invitation to the funeral and it appeared to be "leaving it up to each country to decide. So it's a matter for the Government to decide what level of representation is appropriate." The usual protocol for a state funeral is that the host government informs embassies what representation it expects.

The President, Mrs Robinson, will not be attending Saturday's funeral as she resigns on Friday afternoon. A spokeswoman said it would be "inappropriate" for Mrs Robinson to attend.

"The President is resigning at one o'clock on Friday. And after that day she is employed by the UN and not representing the Irish people." The UN is expected to send its own representative, she added. The Catholic Primate, Archbishop Sean Brady, will leave on Thursday to attend the funeral. A spokesman said Archbishop Brady was chaplain to the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's order, when he was rector of the Irish College in Rome. The order recently opened a house in his diocese of Armagh.

"Archbishop Brady met Mother Teresa only two months ago in Rome and gave her Communion."

Bishop John Magee of Cloyne will also attend Saturday's funeral.

The spokesman said he also believed the general of the Loreto Sisters, Sister Nonie Mitchell, who is based in Rome, was also expected to attend the funeral. Mother Teresa began her vocation as a Loreto nun. Archbishop Brady will celebrate a memorial Mass for Mother Teresa in Armagh Cathedral tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. The spokesman said Masses in other dioceses would be arranged this week, and probably held closer to the day of the funeral.

A book of condolences is being opened this morning at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor John Stafford. The book will be available for signing until Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.