Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be laid to rest later today following an official ceremony at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.
Desmond Tutu’s daughter Mpho Tutu was among those paying tribute to the global icon at his state funeral
Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule, his easy-going nature masking a steely determination to fight for the downtrodden and oppressed. Justin Welby, The Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the worldwide Anglican church, recorded a video message shown at the requiem mass.‘For me to praise him is like a mouse giving tribute to an elephant.
Archbishop Tutu’s plain pine coffin, the cheapest available at his request to avoid any ostentatious displays, was the centre of the service, which also featured African choirs, prayers and incense.Mr Ramaphosa said: ‘There were are only a few amongst us, the rarest of souls, who obtain the stature of global icon during their lifetime.
Mr Rampahosa said that if the clergyman was present, he would say ‘hey, why are you looking so glum, so unhappy?’ and that ‘he would have wanted to have elicited a smile from all of us’. He had requested ‘the cheapest available coffin’ with only ‘a bouquet of carnations from his family’, according to the Archbishop Tutu IP Trust and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.One of South Africa’s greatest sonsHe was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1960, becoming chaplain at the University of Fort Hare, a hotbed of dissent and one of the few quality universities for black African students.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
South Africa prepares to bury Archbishop Desmond TutuThe funeral for Tutu, who helped end apartheid in South Africa, will take place on Saturday.
Read more »
'The spiritual father of our new nation': President's tribute as Archbishop Desmond Tutu laid to restDescribed as a 'humble and brave human being' who spoke up for the oppressed, the archbishop was a giant of the anti-apartheid struggle who helped forge the 'rainbow nation' that followed the white minority regime's demise.
Read more »
Hundreds pay respects to Desmond Tutu ahead of low-key funeralMourners queue in Cape Town to see casket of former archbishop, who requested a funeral without lavish expense
Read more »
After Desmond Tutu, a time for new South African heroesAs the last of South Africa's moral giants is laid to rest, some say now is time to break the mould.
Read more »
Desmond Tutu: State funeral set to be held for archbishop - with reports anti-apartheid hero will be aquamatedPresident Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the main eulogy at the service at St George's Chapel in Cape Town. The archbishop died aged 90 on 26 December.
Read more »