Desmond Tutu, the first doctor honoris causa

On 7 June, the first doctor honoris causa investiture ceremony was held since the University’s creation, awarded to anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, a symbol of the movement for non-violence in the fight against apartheid in South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1994.

His promoters were Joan Egea, dean of the Faculty of Law, and Teresa Garcia-Milà, dean of the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences, and the laudatio was given by Jaume Torras, deputy vice-rector, evoking Tutu’s long-term pursuit of peace and reconciliation.

The voice of South African singer Sibongile Khumalo accompanied this moving ceremony, while Tutu captivated the audience with his personal simplicity and great spiritual strength.

In his emotional, vibrant speech of acceptance, Desmond Tutu strongly defended his faith in the triumph of peace, good and truth over evil: “Obviously, for me the greatest thing has been the defeat of apartheid, which has shown that there is room for forgiveness, for reconciliation. [...] As human beings we have the most extraordinary capacity for evil [...] But that is not all that can be said of us, nor is it the most important truth about us. The most important truth is that we have an extraordinary capacity for good. Basically we are good”.

Photo: Desmond Tutu, after being invested doctor honoris causa.