Desmond Tutu, Anglican archbishop who helped end apartheid, dead at 90


Desmond Tutu — the South African civil rights campaigner, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and retired Anglican archbishop — died Sunday in Cape Town at the age of 90, Reuters reports.
No cause of death was provided, but according to The New York Times, Tutu had been fighting a long battle against prostate cancer.
Tutu was ordained an Anglican priest in 1961, consecrated a bishop in 1975, and installed as archbishop of Cape Town in 1986. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his nonviolent activism in the anti-apartheid movement.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In 1990, former South African President F. W. de Klerk released Nelson Mandela from prison and took other steps to facilitate the country's transition to multi-racial democracy. Tutu served from 1996 until 1998 as chair of the new government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which brought to light injustices committed under the apartheid regime, offering amnesty to the perpetrators and restitution to the victims under the principles of "restorative justice."
Even after his retirement from his civil and ecclesiastical positions, Tutu remained active. He clashed publicly with several of Mandela's presidential successors, spoke out for gay rights, and opposed Israel's occupation of Palestine.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa posted a thread of tweets announcing Tutu's death and calling him "a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead." Ramaphosa also referred to Tutu's death as "another chapter of bereavement in our nation's farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa." F. W. de Klerk died last month.
Tutu is survived by four children, seven grandchildren and his wife, Nomalizo Leah Shenxane, to whom he was married for more than 65 years.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace plan
Speed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Moldova gives decisive win to pro-EU party
Speed Read The country is now on track to join the European Union within five years
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
UK, 3 Western allies recognize Palestinian state
Speed Read Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized the state of Palestine