Funeral service for South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu honors his position in ending apartheid

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A funeral service is underway in Cape City, South Africa, for Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning equality activist who was revered in Africa for his position in ending apartheid.

“After we had been at nighttime, he introduced gentle,” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the pinnacle of the worldwide Anglican church, mentioned in a video message proven at a requiem Mass celebrated in Tutu’s honor Saturday at St. George’s Cathedral.

“For me to reward him is sort of a mouse giving tribute to an elephant,” Welby mentioned. “South Africa has given us extraordinary examples of towering leaders of the rainbow nation with President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu…. Many Nobel winners’ lights have grown dimmer over time, however Archbishop Tutu’s has grown brighter.”

Tutu’s small plain pine coffin, the most cost effective out there at his request to keep away from any ostentatious shows, was the middle of the service, which is also that includes African choirs, prayers and incense.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is to present the eulogy on the service.

Following the funeral, Tutu’s casket is to be taken away for cremation and his ashes interred on the cathedral’s columbarium.

Tutu died last Sunday at age 90.