As the old year drew to a close, so did the life of one of the Anglican Communion’s most celebrated figures, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, known throughout the world for his courageous stand against the apartheid government of South Africa and his leading role in the new South Africa under Nelson Mandela from 1994.
Many had predicted that the end of apartheid would lead to a bloodbath and civil war, but the miracle of a peaceful transition owed much to Archbishop Tutu’s chairmanship of the Peace and Reconciliation Commission, which brought the power of forgiveness to bear on the life of a whole nation.
His work was recognised around the world and he received many honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Légion d’Honneur and the Templeton Prize.
