Archbishop Desmond Tutu RIP

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Source: VN/WCC/SABC

Tributes and condolence messages have been pouring in from around the world, following the death of veteran anti-apartheid campaigner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Nobel-peace prize laureate and former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, passed away today, Sunday 26 December, at the age of 90.

A contemporary of late president Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end the policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa for over 40 years until 1991. After coming to power in the early '90s, President Mandela appointed him to head the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up to investigate crimes committed during the apartheid era.

Pope Francis in the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti credits Archbishop Desmond Tutu, among others, as an inspiration for his encyclical (see paragraph 286). Tutu was always a firm believer in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, based on a culture of sharing, openness, mutual dependence, dialogue, and interpersonal encounter.

In a telegram sent to Archbishop Peter Wells, Apostolic Nuncio in South Africa and signed by Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he was saddened to learn of the Archbishop's death.

Pope Francis also paid tribute to his service to the Gospel through the "promotion of racial equality and reconciliation in his native South Africa." In the message, the Pope invokes "the divine blessings of peace and consolation of the Lord" upon all who mourn Archbishop Tutu's passing.

The Southern African Bishops' Conference has conveyed its condolences to "Mrs Leah Tutu, the family and the Anglican Church over the death of the Late Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Desmond Mpilo Tutu."

"The Archbishop will be remembered for his immense spiritual contribution to the liberation and democracy of South Africa, the reason for which he was a joint laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize. His quest for justice continued when he was the Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and beyond."

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca said Archbishop Tutu was a stalwart contributor to the ecumenical movement during joyful times and times of great challenge, and taught us all the value of persistence. "We thank God for giving us Archbishop Tutu for 90 years," said Sauca. "Through his life and works he has become an image of dignity and freedom for all human beings and inspired many to use their gifts and talents in the service of others and the mission and prophetic task of the church."

Rev Frank Chikane, moderator of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, paid tribute to his counterpart in the struggle against apartheid: "In Archbishop Desmond Tutu we have lost a great prophet of God who lived among us and stood for justice - the justice of God for all - here in South Africa, on the African continent, and throughout the world, including standing against injustices committed against Palestinians in Israel-Palestine, where others would not dare to. We thank God for his prophetic witness which is worth celebrating nationally and internationally."

As well as powerful and forthright voice against injustice, Tutu was also a prophet of forgiveness. In his role as chairperson of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he became, as the former head of WCC Programme to Combat Racism Baldwin Sjollema recalls, "the pastor of the nation." Tutu stressed time and again that there could be no future without forgiveness. "You can only be human in a humane society. If you live with hatred in your heart, you dehumanize not only yourself, but your community," Tutu said.

"At that time Desmond had to be careful not to be too outspoken against the Pretoria regime in order not burn his bridges at home," he said. "But his attitude changed radically after his return to South Africa when he was appointed dean of Johannesburg in 1975 and one year later Anglican bishop of Lesotho, then General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and finally the first black Archbishop of Cape Town (1987)."

Archbishop Tutu's impact on the life of the ecumenical movement and on the work of the WCC was pivotal.

Sauca added: "Today, with Desmond Mpilo Tutu's passing, the world is very much poorer. We join the people of South Africa in mourning this stalwart of the resistance against apartheid. We join the Anglican Communion and all members of the ecumenical fellowship in mourning the Archbishop who has so long been a leading voice for the Christian faith in witnessing for justice instead of injustice and inclusion instead of exclusion. And we join the Tutu family in mourning a father, grandfather and husband."

Desmond Tutu's convictions and witness especially against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia continue to inspire our efforts for a world free from these ills.

Sauca concluded: "We invite all member churches, ecumenical partners and all people of good will to celebrate a life well and faithfully lived in service to God and humanity, and to uphold his legacy of consistent solidarity with the marginalized communities of this world."

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said in his tribute that, "Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a prophet and priest, a man of words and action - one who embodied the hope and joy that were the foundations of his life. Even in our profound sorrow we give thanks for a life so well lived. May he rest in peace and rise in glory."

Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York said in a statement: "One of the great and abiding images of the second half of the 20th century was Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela dancing in the courtroom at the end of the closing session of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Cape Town. Nelson Mandela asked his friend Desmond Tutu to chair the Commission.

"It was a bold and creative way of helping a nation divided brutally between black and white learn to live in glorious technicolour by facing up to the horrors of its past and by putting the Christian imperative for forgiveness alongside the need for truth as the only way of achieving reconciliation.

"And Desmond Tutu was asked to chair it because this incredibly joyful little disciple of Jesus Christ was one of the few people in South Africa other than Nelson Mandela himself, who could unite the nation and carry the trust of everyone.

"In this respect, he was a giant. The world itself feels a little smaller without him. His expansive vision of how the Christian faith shapes the whole of life has touched many hearts and changed many lives. The Anglican church in particular gives thanks for one of its greatest saints. But Christian people everywhere, and all people of goodwill, will today be mourning the loss of someone who showed the world what following Jesus looks like and where it leads.

"Our prayers today are particularly with his family and with our sisters and brothers in the Anglican Church of South Africa. When I go to my chapel this morning to celebrate the Eucharist on this, Saint Stephen's day, I may dance a little jig in thankful memory of this wonderful human being. May he rest in peace and rise in glory."

In a message tonight, The Queen said: "I am joined by the whole Royal Family in being deeply saddened by the news of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a man who tirelessly championed human rights in South Africa and across the world."

Bishop Nicholas Hudson, on behalf of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, has shared the following message, expressing condolences to his family and the Anglican Communion.

Read his message in full:

'It was with sadness that we learnt of the death yesterday of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We would wish, as a Diocese, to offer sincere condolences to his family and to the whole Anglican Communion. We join with them in prayer for the repose of his soul.

'We recall with joy Pope Francis' attribution of the inspiration for Fratelli Tutti at least in part to the ministry of Archbishop Tutu, whom we salute for his decades-long witness to justice, racial equality and reconciliation. His death is an occasion to redouble our prayers for the people of South Africa, so many of whom continue to suffer real hardship.'

'May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.'

LINKS

Tutu Legacy Tributes - www.tutulegacy.com/tribute

Tutu Legacy.com - www.tutulegacy.com/