The idea to erect the monument to Mother Teresa came from the 7,000 strong Albanian community in Porec.
The president of the Albanian National Community Council in Porec, Robert Daka, described this as a big day for the entire Albanian minority.
"We are proud of this monument to Mother Teresa who, by the way, was a citizen of India but of Albanian origin, and that is why we did everything we could to have this bust see the light of day," Daka said.
Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa on 19 October 2003 while Pope Francis canonised her to sainthood on 4 September 2016.
The statute was blessed by Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simon Troshani who is currently a guest of the Porec-Pula Diocese. He later celebrated Mass in St. Euphrasia's Basilica and said, "This is an illuminating day, full of joy and honour for Mother Teresa who did everything possible to carry Christ's love, particularly to the suffering and ill."
Mayor Loris Persuric said that Porec was known for its tourism, multiculturalism, coexistence and tolerance and as of today can pride itself with this monument.
Mother Teresa became a symbol of tolerance in the entire world and with this statue Porec will now be even more recognised for its tolerance, he said.
Today's ceremony was attended by senior guests from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and India, including Albanian President Meta, former Croatian president Stjepan Mesic, India's Ambassador to Croatia Sandip Kumar, and Macedonian Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaveri.