THE Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Thabo Makgoba,
visited Nelson Mandela in hospital in Pretoria on Tuesday to offer
"spiritual support" and prayer. As the Church Times went
to press on Wednesday, reports suggested that the former South
African President, who is 94, was nearing the end of his life.
Mr Mandela has been receiving treatment in hospital for a lung
infection (News, 14 June). The President of
South Africa, Jacob Zuma, said on Monday that Mr Mandela's
condition had become critical. "All of us in the country should
accept the fact that Madiba [Mr Mandela's clan name] is now old,"
he said. "As he ages, his health will . . . trouble him, and I
think what we need to do as a country is to pray for him."
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa published a prayer on
Tuesday, which it said had been used by Archbishop Makgoba "to
offer spiritual support" to Mr Mandela.
The prayer says in part: "Make your compassionate and
strengthening presence known to Graça [Mr Mandela's wife], and to
all who love Madiba, at this hard time of watching and waiting.
Fill them with your holy courage and the gift of trusting faith,
and take away their fears so that they may dare to face their grief
and bring it to your presence. . .
"Guide the medical staff so that they may know how to use their
skills wisely and well, in caring for Madiba and keeping him
comfortable. And uphold all of us with your steadfast love so that
we may be filled with gratitude for all the good that he has done
for us and for our nation, and may honour his legacy through our
lives."
On Monday, the Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, published a
prayer for Mr Mandela, asking God to "look with mercy on Madiba
Mandela; and on all your children in South Africa."