“A shepherd” for the Mandela Foundation, “The example” for the American presidential couple biden, “a source of inspiration for generations” for the UN.
Le Monde with AFP
“It was an extraordinary human being. A thinker. A leader. A shepherd”: In the unison of the reactions from around the world, the Mandela Foundation described “immeasurable” the loss of Desmond Tutu, for which one week of mourning is observed, from Monday, December 27 to the funeral on Saturday in Cape Town
Sunday night, Joe and Jill Biden, saying to have the “broken heart”, felt in a statement that “the example” of the Anglican archbishop died Sunday at 90 years “transcends borders and find an echo through ages “. The American presidential couple also evoked the “power of the message of justice, equality, truth and reconciliation” carried by Desmond Tutu.
Earlier, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had expressed “his deep sadness” after the death of this “patriot without equal”. His death “is a new chapter of mourning in the farewell of our nation to a generation of exceptional South Africans who have left us a released South Africa,” he said, evoking “a man of an intelligence Extraordinary, integrity and invincible against apartheid forces “.
The United Nations also paid tribute to Desmond Tutu, “a source of inspiration for generations around the world” and whose death “leaves an immense void,” according to the words of his Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
“The Arch”
Countless countries around the world have joined this emotion with messages at the highest level, like Queen Elizabeth II saluting the “tireless” defender of human rights or French president Emmanuel Macron ensuring that “combat” De Desmond Tutu “For the end of apartheid and South African reconciliation will remain in our memories”.
Tribops also from religious authorities, Pope Francis to the spiritual leader of the Anglicans and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, via the Dalai Lama.
Tributes, finally, from South Africans stopping in front of St. George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, the former parish of “The Arch”, as he was affectionately nicknamed. “He has counted so much in the fight against apartheid. For us, the blacks …”, thus confides to the AFP Brent Goliath, 44, before bursting into tears. Sunday evening, the Foundation of Desmond Tutu announced that its funeral would be held on Saturday, January 1 in this cathedral.
Among the provisions announced, the Foundation indicates that “the bells of the St. George Cathedral will be bordered every day for ten minutes, from noon”, all week from Monday to Friday, the day the body of the deceased ” will rest in a fiery chapel in the cathedral “.
Desmond Tutu was the last of the great figures of the fight against apartheid, the consciousness of South Africa, but also a mischievous and powerful laugh.
Until recently, the Nobel Peace Prize has imposed its small purple silhouette and its legendary franc-talk to denounce the injustices and to peel all powers. The last time the country has had its news was the November. Far from the eyes, he voted in the local elections.