New Delhi  - German-born Sister Mary Prema has been elected the new head of the Missionaries of Charity, a congregation founded by Mother Teresa in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, news reports said Thursday.

The appointment has to be ratified by the Vatican.

The congregation's general chapter elected Sister Mary Prema as superior general after its current leader, Sister Nirmala, said she wanted to be relieved of the position, citing poor health, the Times of India newspaper reported.

Sister Nirmala, 74, has headed the Missionaries of Charity since Mother Teresa's death in 1997. She was re-elected as superior general for a third term on March 13.

A total of 163 nuns voted at the general chapter to choose Sister Mary Prema to take over as the new head, the Union of Catholic Asian News reported. Seventy-four of the nuns were from India and the rest were from the more than 130 countries where the order has branches.

Albania-born Mother Teresa lived and worked in Kolkata for more than 45 years ministering to the sick, dying and orphans before her own death 1997. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Kolkata in 2003. (dpa)