Nobel Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu, 90, Passes Away

On December 26, Archbishop Desmond Tutu passed away at the age of 90 in Capetown, South Africa.

Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to apartheid in South Africa. Over a decade later, Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the purpose of making the public aware of the atrocious committed during the apartheid regime.

Although Desmond Tutu had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the late 1990s, his cause of death was not disclosed. However, he had been hospitalized in recent years to treat infections he suffered as a result of the cancer treatments he was undergoing.

President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a lengthy speech addressing his passing, saying, "The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation’s farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa."

"Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal," he added. "A leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead."

"A man of extraordinary intellect, integrity, and invincibility against the forces of apartheid, he was also tender and vulnerable in his compassion for those who had suffered oppression, injustice, and violence under apartheid, and oppressed and downtrodden people around the world," he continued.

"From the pavements of resistance in South Africa to the pulpits of the world’s great cathedrals and places of worship, and the prestigious setting of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Arch distinguished himself as a non-sectarian, inclusive champion of universal human rights," he added, concluding, "We pray that Archbishop Tutu’s soul will rest in peace but that his spirit will stand sentry over the future of our nation."

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu," tweeted Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. "He was a critical figure in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa - and will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour."

Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, wrote, "Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the spiritual leader of the anti-apartheid movement. He believed in human dignity & the power of freedom to create a new nation. His deep faith was his powerhouse that made the world a better place. Thank you and ‘well done good and faithful servant’."

Former President of the United States, Barack Obama, tweeted, "Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend, and a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere."

Swedish Foreign Leader Ann Linde wrote, "Rest in peace Desmond Tutu, a man who relentlessly fought against apartheid. A pragmatic leader with a key role towards peace and stability and who championed human rights throughout his life. He will continue to be an inspiration for many generations to come."

Leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, tweeted, "Desmond Tutu was a tower of a man, and a leader of moral activism. He dedicated his life to tackling injustice and standing up for the oppressed. His impact on the world crosses borders and echoes through generations. May he rest in peace."