South Africa's Desmond Tutu to retire from public life

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By Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times
July 22, 2010 | 2:57 p.m.

Reporting from Johannesburg — Sipping tea, and serving his beloved wife her first cup every morning in bed. Watching soccer. Spending more time with his family. Reading. Writing. Praying.

And just thinking

Retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu sketched out a quiet, blissful future Thursday at a news conference as he announced his decision to withdraw from public life.

All he wants in his old age, he said, is a peaceful family life in his hometown, Cape Town. No more interviews, no more speeches, no more plane-hopping.

The Nobel peace laureate, along with former President Nelson Mandela, one of South Africa's most beloved figures, is regarded as the country's voice of conscience. Although he retired as an Anglican archbishop in 1996, he has remained a prominent public figure.

But he said Thursday that he would retire from public life in October, when he turns 79.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-tutu-retires-20100723,0,2216871.story