Desmond Tutu bows out

2008: Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the London unveiling of Gilt of Cain, a sculpture by artist and poet Lemn Sissay to commemorate the 2007 bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade Photograph: Graeme Robertson for the Guardian

1994: South Africa's president-elect, Nelson Mandela, centre left, arrives with Tutu at an open-air service in Soweto Photograph: Desmond Boylan/Reuters

2006: Tutu tries to calm supporters of the Haitian presidential candidate René Préval as they try to get into the Montana hotel, Port-au-Prince, where a press conference to announce polling results has just been cancelled. Préval is later declared the winner Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

1997: As co-chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Tutu listens to testimony during a special session of the TRC in Johannesburg Photograph: Adil Bradlow/AP

2004: Tutu joins King's College, London, as a visiting professor in post-conflict societies. Photograph: David Sillitoe for The Guardian

1998: The Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, and Tutu at Connoly House in west Belfast Photograph: Brian Little/PA

2001: Tutu chats to the Dalai Lama during a break at the Nobel peace prize centennial symposium in Oslo Photograph: Reuters

1994: Tutu with Sue Lawley before a recording of Desert Island Discs for BBC Radio 4 Photograph: BBC

2008: Tutu and the actor Richard Gere talk ahead of a pro-Tibet rally in San Francisco, California Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

2006: Barack Obama shares a joke with Tutu in Cape Town, South Africa Photograph: Obed Zilwa/AP

2008: Hamas leader and former Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya holds a joint press conference with Tutu following a meeting in Gaza City Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

2009: Tutu jokes with the former Irish president Mary Robinson before an Oxfam international climate hearing in Copenhagen Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

2010: Tutu joins the musician and activist Bob Geldof during the open ceremony of the One Young World summit in London Photograph: Sang Tan/AP

2004: Tutu joins chatshow host Oprah Winfrey on Takalani Sesame, the South African adaptation of the US children's show Sesame Street Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

2009: Tutu shares a word with the archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, at a church service during the Hay festival Photograph: Martin Argles for The Guardian

2010: Tutu is pictured during an interview with Sir Trevor McDonald in south London Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

2004: Mandela and Tutu celebrate with other members of the South African delegation after the announcement that South Africa will host the 2010 football World Cup Photograph: EPA

2003: Tutu hand's over the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the South African president, Thabo Mbeki, in Pretoria Photograph: Juda Ngwenya/Reuters

1997: Tutu rests during a break in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's investigations Photograph: Adil Bradlow/AP

2007: Tutu sits for photographs following a service to present him with an honorary fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians in Westminster Cathedral, London Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

2010: Tutu gestures as he delivers a speech during the One Young World summit in London, the largest gathering of young leaders Photograph: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

2010: Tutu at a press conference to announce his withdrawal from public life after his 79th birthday Photograph: Getty Images

2010: Tutu gives an address during the opening concert for the World Cup at the Orlando stadium in Soweto Photograph: Hassan Ammar/AP