Nelson Mandela

"Never before in history was one human being so universally acknowledged in his lifetime as the embodiment of magnanimity and reconciliation as Nelson Mandela was."

These are the opening words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's remembrance of Nelson Mandela published earlier this week in the Washington Post. Notwithstanding all that has been written or said over the past few days about this larger than life figure, we still seem unable to capture in words the significance of this great man. It seems appropriate for a Catholic legal blog to discuss this student of the law and father of a nation. Yet, words fail to do him or his legacy justice. In my view, Archbishop Tutu's reflection comes closest to capturing the personal and public attributes and struggles so many admire. It is worth a read.