A final farewell. This past Saturday, a memorial service for Desmond Tutu was held in Cape Town‘s Anglican cathedral—the very place where he powerfully preached against the oppressive apartheid regime. Family and grieving South Africans gathered to bid adieu to their beloved archbishop.
Under a gloomy sky and light rain, loved ones, clergy, and dignitaries streamed into the church for a service Bishop Tutu, who passed away on December 26th at age 90, had meticulously planned—simple, unostentatious, with carefully selected readings and speakers. His remains rested in a modest pine casket, as per his wish for affordability. Simple rope replaced the traditional gold handles for easy transport. The casket had been on public display for two days at St. George’s Cathedral, allowing the public to pay their respects.
VIDEO. Desmond Tutu: Remembering an anti-apartheid icon
“Father would say the global outpouring of love (this week) is incredibly touching,” his daughter Mpho shared with mourners. “We’re deeply grateful for the affection shown.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy after Communion, presenting Tutu’s wife, “Mama Leah,” with a national flag. A close confidant and former colleague, Bishop Michael Nuttall, chosen by the late Archbishop, delivered the sermon. During Tutu’s tenure, Nuttall served as his second-in-command. Their extraordinary bond—a prominent Black leader and his white deputy during apartheid’s final years—resonated deeply. “And the world didn’t end!” Nuttall declared from the pulpit. “We foreshadowed a united South Africa.”
The “champion of the unheard”
Nuttall also recalled Nelson Mandela’s description of Tutu as “the champion of the unheard,” a voice “sometimes sharp, often gentle, never fearful, and rarely without humor”.
Former Irish President Mary Robinson participated in the prayers, alongside King Letsie III of Lesotho and a representative of the Dalai Lama—with whom Tutu shared many hearty laughs. “Their friendship was exceptional,” Ngodup Dorjee told AFP. “They connected instantly, laughing together. It was a karmic bond, I believe,” he added solemnly.
The week witnessed a nationwide and international outpouring of tributes. South Africans honored his unwavering commitment and grace in the face of the Pretoria government’s oppression. For his own service, Desmond Tutu selected a passage from St. John’s Gospel, where Jesus speaks to his disciples at their final supper. A message of profound love: “My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you.”