Irene Zirimwabagabo
Kroc M.A. Class of 2004

“I was expecting him to enter ceremoniously with an entourage but to my surprise he just ran into the room, dressed in a T-shirt, sat down and with a smile, apologized for being late!”

Brenda Fitzpatrick, a Kroc M.A. peace student from Canada, was among those privileged to have breakfast with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on the morning after his keynote address at the “Peacebuilding After Peace Accords” conference. Among those present were faculty members from both the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies; Notre Dame’s associate dean for graduate studies, Don Pope-Davis; students in the Kroc master’s program; and a few other graduate and undergraduate students taking peace studies courses.

This rare opportunity allowed the students to talk with the Nobel Prize winner about his experiences in the anti-apartheid struggle, and his work on unity and reconciliation of the South African people since their momentous transition to democratic rule in 1994. The students had read excerpts from his book, No Future without Forgiveness, and had discussed intensely its themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.

No reasonable amount of time would have been sufficient to explore all the thought-provoking and inspiring ideas that Archbishop Tutu expressed in his writing and his earlier address. Professor Cynthia Mahmood, director of graduate studies at the Kroc Institute, invited him to address the group briefly, and then suggested that the floor be opened to questions. His comments echoed the themes of his keynote address: the need for empathy, understanding, forgiveness, and unconditional inclusion of others different from ourselves.

What most captivated his audience was his ability to communicate a message of hope and faith so completely - not just verbally, but also through the power of his presence, energy, and humility.

“He is persuasive by the nature of his charisma. Listening to him made me think of his stand on forgiveness as viable,” said Mark Canavera, a student from the United States. “I could now understand how the transition to peaceful reconciliation was possible by seeing the forces behind it.”

Tutu’s call for forgiveness seemed to cross religious and cultural boundaries. “Although he spoke from a Christian point of view, it was not difficult to understand from other religious perspectives,” said Chayanit Poonyarat, a student from Thailand.

Many listeners were struck by his assertion that, in the process of forgiveness and reconciliation, it is important to acknowledge the perpetrators’ humanity.

“I was impressed when he said that people also dehumanize themselves when they dehumanize others. As peacebuilders, we might tend to side with victims, but it is important that we find a way to reach out to the oppressors as well – we need to include them in the healing,” said Elias Omondi Opongo, a Kenyan student.

It was motivating for the students to hear that message from someone who arguably has succeeded in working with oppressors. Raouf Ahanger, a student from India, said it is Tutu’s experiences “that give him sound reason to say what he does, that no problem is intractable. That there is hope and hope sustains life.”

The compelling story that South Africans have to share about trying to heal their deeply wounded society has a strong impact on those working for peace. Said Deniz Ugur, a Turkish student: “Every movement or idea needs a powerful symbol. Tutu is a symbol for peace.”

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