PARIS, Dec 27, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - South Africa's anti-apartheid icon

Archbishop Desmond Tutu died Sunday aged 90, sparking tributes from around
the world.

  - Barack Obama -

  Former US president Barack Obama, the nation's first Black leader, called
Tutu "a mentor, a friend, and a moral compass" who could "find humanity in
his adversaries".

  "A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for
liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice
everywhere," said the fellow Nobel Peace laureate in a statement.

  - Joe Biden -

  US President Joe Biden said he was "heartbroken" to learn of the
archbishop's death.

  "Desmond Tutu followed his spiritual calling to create a better, freer, and
more equal world," Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement that
praised Tutu's "courage and moral clarity".

  - Pope Francis -

  The Vatican said in a statement that Pope Francis was saddened and offered
"heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones".

  "Mindful of his service to the gospel through the promotion of racial
equality and reconciliation in his native South Africa, his holiness commends
his soul to the loving mercy of almighty God."

  - The Elders -

  "We are all devastated," said Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders, a group
of global leaders working for peace and human rights that Tutu co-founded.

  "He inspired me to be a 'prisoner of hope', in his inimitable phrase," said
Robinson, a former president of Ireland.

  The Elders said in a statement they had "lost a dear friend, whose
infectious laugh and mischievous sense of humour delighted and charmed them
all".

  - African Union -

  "A man of faith convinced in the power of reconciliation through
restorative justice," said Moussa Faki Mahamat, the current chair of the
African Union.

  Tutu, he added, "was a true shepherd of peace".

  - Uhuru Kenyatta -

  Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Tutu's passing was "a big blow" not
only to South Africa but to the entire African continent.

  "Archbishop Tutu inspired a generation of African leaders who embraced his
non-violent approaches in the liberation struggle," he said.

  - Bobi Wine -

  "A giant has fallen," wrote Uganda opposition leader Bobi Wine on Twitter.

  "We thank God for his life -- a purposeful life, truly lived in the service
of humanity."

  - UN Secretary General -

  United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called Tutu "a towering global figure
for peace and an inspiration to generations across the world".

  "During the darkest days of apartheid, he was a shining beacon for social
justice, freedom and non-violent resistance," Guterres said in a statement.

  - Queen Elizabeth II -

  Queen Elizabeth II called Tutu a "man who tirelessly championed human
rights in South Africa and across the world".

  "I remember with fondness my meetings with him and his great warmth and
humour," she said in a statement.

  - Boris Johnson -

  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Tutu "a critical figure in the
fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa".

  He "will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good
humour," Johnson tweeted.

  - Emmanuel Macron -

  French President Emmanuel Macron said Tutu had "dedicated his life to human
rights and equality between peoples". "His struggle for the end of apartheid
and for reconciliation in South Africa will remain in our memory," he
tweeted.

  - Thabo Makgoba -

  Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said the life of Tutu, a "deeply
spiritual person", should be celebrated.

  "He named wrong wherever he saw it and by whomever it was committed. He
challenged the systems that demeaned humanity."

  - Charles Michel -

  "A man who gave his life to freedom with a deep commitment to human
dignity," European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.

  "A giant who stood up against apartheid. You will be deeply missed."

  - Olaf Scholz -

  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Tutu "a lifelong advocate of the
principles of humanity, freedom and equality".

  - Justin Trudeau -

  "Archbishop Tutu was a voice for the oppressed and a tireless advocate for
human rights -- and the world is a better place because he was in it,"
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter.

  - Jonas Gahr Store -

  Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store paid tribute to a man who "showed
the power of reconciliation and forgiveness".

  Highlighting Tutu's Nobel award, he added: "Never has a peace prize been so
fitting."