Desmond Tutu
The 'Arch' whose moral voice — and laughter — helped a nation heal.
The rise
An Anglican priest who rose to Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu turned the pulpit into a platform against apartheid.
What they did
He won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, championed nonviolent resistance and sanctions, and chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, coining the vision of a 'Rainbow Nation'.
The full picture
He spared no one: he criticized the post-apartheid government's corruption and injustice as fiercely as he had the old regime, making him inconvenient to allies and enemies alike.
Why it matters
Tutu showed that moral authority, exercised fearlessly and with humor, is a form of leadership that outlives any office.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”