Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, have become the first recipients of the Fetzer Institute's international award for Love and Forgiveness.

Tutu was honoured during a conference discussing issues beyond reconciliation at the University of Cape Town. The Fetzer Institute is a non-profit organisation that supports research, education and service programmes.

Its President Tom Beech says they acknowledge the recipients inspiration and commitment to advancing human understanding, forgiveness and compassion. 

The Prize for Love and Forgiveness honours the courage and persistence with which the Dalai Lama and Tutu have both worked to bring love, compassion and forgiveness to all that they do, as well as their ability to inspire these same impulses in others around the world. The Dalai Lama and Tutu are renowned, revered, respected and loved the world over.