S. Africa's Bishop Tutu gets a gift from the Dalai Lama

Pretoria (South Africa), Apr. 19 (ANI) - Archbishop Desmond Tutu received a spiritual leadership award - and a gift from Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama - at Freedom Park in Pretoria on Saturday.After Tutu was granted the spiritual leadership award by an organisation called Humanity's Team, it was announced that the Dalai Lama had also sent him a gift.

A representative of the Dalai Lama then draped a white scarf around his shoulders.

"Leaders such as Madiba (Nelson Mandela) spent 27 years in prison and humbly reconcile[d] with the enemy: One would expect them to be bitter. The Dalai Lama has been in exile for 50 years and one will expect that by now he should have been corroded by bitterness - and he is not," said Tutu when receiving his award.Tutu, together with former president FW De Klerk, pulled out of a peace conference last month after the South African government refused the Dalai Lama a visa. The conference was cancelled after they pulled out.

On Saturday night, Tutu walked in to receive his award while an electric mix of African opera, pop and rock music was performed.

The audience who braved the cold evening weather gave him a standing ovation. (ANI)