The author was ordained by Desmond Tutu and served as his chaplain. Battle states that the biography is a testimony to Tutu’s spirituality, character, political impact and engaging humour. The book includes a foreword by the Dalai Lama and an afterword by Tutu himself.

Author: Michael Battle

Publisher: Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2021, 368 pages.

Reviewer: John Meredith

Desmond Tutu grew up in a racially torn South Africa. He broke new ground when appointed the first black Bishop of Johannesburg and then Archbishop of Capetown. In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Other facts of Tutu’s life have been well-traversed in obituaries published after his death on 26 December 2021.

Battle identifies Tutu as a Christian mystic whose devotion shaped every aspect of his life. Prayer and contemplation were daily priorities. No matter where he was, every day he would celebrate the Eucharist even at a busy airport. It was from his disciplined practice of devotion that his life overflowed in practical loving service to his fellows.

The political system of apartheid that separated South Africa’s citizens on the basis of skin colour was based upon the belief that the superiority of white people was God’s design. This was dominant Dutch Reformed Church theology. In the Anglican Church in which Tutu grew up religion was separate from the political sphere.

In his opposition to apartheid, Battle states that Tutu has been perceived as a political agent whose identity was ancillary to his life as a priest. Battle agues decisively that this is a misperception. It was because Tutu saw apartheid as contrary to the biblical vision of peace and justice that he stood firmly against the policies of the South African government. For this Battle coins the term ‘political spirituality.’

Following the election of Nelson Mandela and a new constitution that ended the policy of apartheid, Tutu was appointed to head the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate torture, killing and other atrocities committed during apartheid. In this role he was determined to move beyond witch-hunts and self-righteous justification to the recognition that all people need to be embraced and healed. He sought to promote repentance and forgiveness and a theology of community that would allow all South Africans to grow towards unity.

Tutu was renowned for his sense of humour and lively wit which he used effectively to disarm hostility or to assure critics he held no personal resentment towards them. He was often able to prompt those who were feeling tense to laugh and this helped the exploration of sensitive issues in a more relaxed frame of mind.

Battle ranks Desmond Tutu among the saints. There is no doubt that his life was an inspiration. It is regrettable that a book that tells of the transforming power of Tutu’s spirituality is not easy to read because of long sustained sections with no breaks or subtitles and the text in small print.

Battle ends by affirming that Tutu’s life invites all people of faith to ensure that prayer is expressed in action. He closes with a prayer that God will send us forth to be instruments of peace.

This is the final book review written by John Meredith for Touchstone. John died peacefully on 21 May following a short illness. He will be sadly missed.