Many parish halls displayed pictures of Desmond Tutu in the 1980s. He was an important role model for many us. He was a major role model for many of us. After he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 he visited Uppsala, where I was studying to be a priest.
I had never before heard anyone preach the way he did. This was in the middle of the toughest stage of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. He spoke with gravity about the situation but at the same time with a degree of humour which I had never heard before. He had the whole congregation laughing. He rose even higher in my estimation.
It was with nervousness that I agreed with the Church of Sweden and the publisher Libris to try to convince him to visit Sweden again for the Book Fair. Contact with his small staff made it clear that although he had retired, the former archbishop’s diary was always fully booked.
We were lucky that he happened to be travelling from the US to Europe and onward to Darfur at the time of the Book Fair, and so could come for a visit. When he arrived at Landvetter it was after visiting no fewer than six US cities in the previous five days.
Walking beside him at the demonstration in support of the Burmese people was enormous moving. People came from all sides to touch him and speak with him. He spoke last, directing his words both to those present at the Fair and to the entire world. No, he is not Jesus, but a truly saint-like human.
Mikael Ringlander
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