BISHOP TUTU RETIRES AND MAKES MASS IMPACT

Just hours after celebrating his 79th birthday on the 7th of October and announcing his retirement from public life, Archbishop Desmond Tutu held a small mass at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.

The Friday morning mass was attended by approximately 75 people including Frank Van der Velde, the former mayor of Cape Town, South African historian and author Francis Wilson and a group of university students from the United States.

The Archbishop radiated warmth throughout the ceremony, chuckling often as he joked with his rapt audience. He rested casually on his forearms against the pulpit, smiling in turn as he welcomed each visitor with applause. One guest announced that he was happy to have the chance to see the Archbishop before he retired, to which Tutu jokingly responded, “I retired yesterday.”

Tutu announced his intent to retire from public life in July — lamenting in a public statement that “too much of [his] time has been spent in airports and hotels.”  He added that he plans to enjoy retirement and to continue to work with the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre in Cape Town.

President Obama issued a statement expressing his appreciation and respect for the Archbishop.

“For decades he has been a moral titan—a voice of principle, an unrelenting champion of justice, and a dedicated peacemaker,” Obama said.

“We will miss his insight and his activism, but will continue to learn from his example.”

Tutu, the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel Peace laureate, was an integral and prominent voice of opposition against the apartheid government. After the establishment of a democratic new South Africa, he led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) – an internationally publicized trial established to address human rights abuses committed during apartheid.

Tutu celebrated his birthday and kicked off his retirement in port on board the ‘Semester At Sea’ cruise ship — where he is spending three months traveling the globe as a distinguished lecturer to university students.

The Archbishop’s characteristic white halo of hair was noticeably absent. In solidarity with Semester at Sea students, he shaved his head when they crossed the Equator in celebration of Neptune Day.  His easy charm and wide smile were true to form and he left his guests feeling inspired by his humility and down to earth personality.

“It was powerful to be in the same room as a legend that was so influential in the anti-apartheid movement,” said Sarah Collman, an American student who is spending the semester abroad in Cape Town.

“He was bubbly and personable and he made everyone feel welcomed.”

Tutu left Cape Town shortly after concluding the mass to continue to serve as a lecturer on the Semester at Sea program which ends in December.