Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Monday visited the office of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and praised Mother Teresa saying she was a symbol of sympathy, which the world badly needs at present.

"She is a symbol of what the world needs today -- sympathy," Prodi said during his visit to Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.

Prodi, who was accompanied by his wife Flavia Franzoni, was received at Mother House by the MC assistant superior general Sister Lysa.

Immediately after arrival at Mother House, Prodi and his wife prayed for about 10 minutes at the tomb of Mother Teresa located on the ground floor.

The prayer, in Italian, was led by Sister Lysa.

During the 30-minute visit, Prodi and his wife were shown around various areas of Mother House. They were garlanded and greeted with a welcome song and hymns by MC novices.

Prodi also chatted for some time with a few Italian volunteers working with the MC in Kolkata.

He was presented with a book on Mother Teresa and brochures containing her sayings.

Sister Nirmala, superior general of the order, is at present in Africa.

Sister Lysa told the Italian prime minister that Mother Teresa had a great love for Italy and the order had 20 houses in that country.

She also said that there were 180 sisters in Mother House and 130 of them were preparing for their final vows. Currently, there were 200 MC sisters working in Kolkata.