Tutu, Right Revd Desmond Mpilo

Tutu, Right Revd Desmond Mpilo (b. 7 Oct. 1931). Archbishop of Cape Town 1986–96 Born in the Transvaal of mixed Xhosa and Tswana descent, he was ordained an Anglican priest in 1961. He went to Britain for further studies in 1962, receiving a Master's degree in theology from King's College, London (1966). On his return, he became a lecturer in the seminaries in the Cape and then in Lesotho. He left for Britain again to become Associate Director of the World Council of Churches (1972–5). His subsequent appointment as Dean of Johannesburg in 1975 was so offensive to many White Anglicans in South Africa that he was removed, becoming Bishop of Lesotho (1976). As secretary-general to the South African Council of Churches (1978–85) he used his position to become the most outspoken opponent of the apartheid regime during the 1980s. He was confirmed in this role through the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

He became Bishop of Johannesburg in 1985, and in 1986 he became the first Black to be elected to the highest Anglican see in the country, the Archbishopric of Cape Town. Always demanding the release of Nelson Mandela, he effortlessly changed his role from arch-critic to arch-conscience of the nation after Mandela's release in 1990, without fear of even occasionally criticizing Mandela himself. Second to Mandela, Tuto was perhaps the only South African to enjoy the near-universal confidence of all sections of the population. As a result, he was chosen to chair the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Following the publication of the controversial TRC report, he continued to be an outspoken advocate of peace and justice.