n icon, a fervent artisan of peace and democracy, a figurehead of the anti-apartheid struggle”, there is no shortage of words to greet the departure of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on Sunday.
The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, officially announced the death of this great man who marked the history of his country and that of all humanity.
“This is a new chapter of mourning in our nation’s farewell to a generation of exceptional South Africans…”, said Mr. Ramaphosa in a statement.
He praised Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s extraordinary intelligence and integrity that made him invincible in the fight against racism in South Africa. The deceased was also a man of compassion and tenderness, also appreciated the South African head of state.
In 1984, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Desmond Tutu in recognition of his commitment to the oppressed in his country who were finally freed from the yoke of apartheid.
An apostle of freedom
The prelate died at the age of 90. Throughout his life, he defended, promoted and spread the notions of freedom and democracy not only on the African continent but also beyond the alma mater.
Also, Desmond Tutu kindly visited Haiti in 1984 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the national independence that was knowingly undermined by plotters from here and elsewhere.
It would be too good to let the country rise from its ashes like the phoenix. It was necessary to do everything to continue to cut its throat, to make it pay the price of the freedom of which it never ceased to be proud, even if its own leaders and its own sons were used.
Desmond Tutu came to commemorate with the Haitians the secular declaration of national independence, but they were too bogged down in their petty squabbles to realize the dimension of this trip. Desmond Tutu followed in the footsteps of Toussaint Louverture and the other heroes of the war of independence who came from the same motherland, Africa.
Archbishop Tutu has left for the afterlife. The Haitian people salute his memory and invite him to take his place not only in the national pantheon but also in the pantheons of the world where rest the builders of nations sharing the universal notions of peace, freedom, tolerance, progress and humanism that constitute the ferment of democracy.
Desmond Tutu has left us and the situation in Haiti continues to worsen. He will continue to watch over the Haitian people as he will over the people of South Africa.
To God, Archbishop Tutu!