Desmond Tutu Becomes Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa
Desmond Tutu was appointed Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, on September 7, 1986, making history as the first black individual to hold this prominent position. Born on October 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp, Tutu became an Anglican priest in 1961 and developed a distinguished academic and theological background. His leadership journey included roles as bishop of Lesotho and general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, where he began to vocally oppose apartheid. Tutu emerged as a key figure in the anti-apartheid movement, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his activism. Following his archbishopric, he chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the 1990s, a pivotal body aimed at addressing the injustices of apartheid. Tutu's legacy is marked by his commitment to justice, reconciliation, and unwavering advocacy for human rights, resonating with diverse audiences around the world. His leadership not only transformed the Anglican Church in South Africa but also played a significant role in the broader struggle against apartheid.
Desmond Tutu Becomes Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa
Desmond Tutu Becomes Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa
On September 7, 1986, Desmond Mpilo Tutu became the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, the first black person ever to hold that post. He thereby also became the leader of the Anglican Church in South Africa.
Born on October 7, 1931, in Klerksdorp in the Transvaal region of South Africa, Tutu became an Anglican priest in 1961. He studied extensively both in South Africa and abroad and by the late 1960s was a respected teacher of theology. Tutu became bishop of Lesotho in 1976 and general secretary of the South African Council of Churches in 1978.
Taking advantage of his newly acquired prominance, Tutu began to speak out publicly against the South African institution of segregation known as apartheid. He became a prominent leader in the antiapartheid movement, and for his efforts was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1984. He also became the bishop of Johannesburg that same year, and then archbishop of Cape Town in 1986. After the collapse of apartheid in the 1990s, Tutu served as chairman of the new black majority government's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He retired as archbishop in 1996 in order to concentrate his efforts on the commission, which ended its work in 1998.