South African priest Desmond Tutu passed away on Sunday at the age of 90. A long-time friend of Nelson Mandela, an apostle like him of a peaceful fight against apartheid in South Africa, since the announcement of the unfortunate news, praise has been mounting as many people across the world pay tribute to the 1984 Nobel of Peace Prize.



South African President Cyril Ramaphosa praised “a patriot without equal”, “who gave meaning to the biblical intuition that faith without works is dead.”

The Head of State, elected in 2018, believes that the death of the Anglican Archbishop forms “a new chapter of mourning in our nation’s farewell to a generation of exceptional South Africans who left us a South Africa released ”.

“A thinker, a leader, a shepherd,” greeted the Nelson Mandela Foundation in a long press release. The organization looks back on the friendship between the two men. “It was Tutu who raised Madiba’s hand on the balcony of Cape Town Town Hall on May 9, 1994 and introduced him to the crowd as the new president.” And to quote Mandela, who then praised the Anglican priest for “his eagerness to take unpopular positions without fear”.

Desmond Tutu



At different times, Mandela and Desmond Tutu have long lived on the same street in the South African township of Soweto, Vilakazi Street, the only one in the world to have housed two Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

United States President Joe Biden also addressed his message after the “heartbroken” news.


Man who dedicated “his life to human rights”


In France, Emmanuel Macron praised a man who “dedicated his life to human rights and the equality of peoples. His fight for the end of apartheid and South African reconciliation will be remembered, “reacts the head of state.

Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, said she was saddened by the news. “A great former influencer is now an eternal witness,” she wrote on Twitter. “And we’re better because he was here,” she concluded with a photo of the reverend surrounded by curious children.





Briton Richard Branson felt that “the world has lost a giant”.



The former Virgin boss mourns the loss of “a brave, delightful leader, a deep thinker and a dear friend.”