This milestone year marks fifteen years of the Lecture, an event that has evolved from a single moment of reflection into an African platform that aims for peace dialogue and moral leadership, says the foundation.

"The world needs voices of courage, compassion and moral clarity," says Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. "As we mark fifteen years of the Peace Lecture, we honour our Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Tutu's unflinching belief that peace is not passive, it's justice in motion. Dr Tharoor's voice, grounded in intellect and empathy, will challenge us to imagine a world led by conscience rather than convenience."

A Theme for the Times: Faith, Conflict and Shared Humanity in a Fractured World

The 2025 Lecture comes at a time of deepening global polarisation and genocidal violence, where questions of faith, identity and belonging often divide rather than unite. The theme, "Faith, Conflict and Our Shared Humanity in a Fractured World," calls for a rediscovery of empathy and solidarity across lines of belief, nation and ideology, says the foundation.

Dr Tharoor's address explores the moral imagination required for peace, the role of faith traditions as bridges rather than boundaries and the need to reclaim a shared global ethic rooted in dignity, justice and compassion, adds the foundation.

"Desmond Tutu believed that faith could be a force for radical inclusion," adds Jobson. "In a time when division defines so much of public life, this year's Lecture reminds us that the true measure of faith is not what we believe, but how we live those beliefs, through courage, empathy and a shared commitment to humanity."

A Legacy of Moral Courage, Renewed for the Times

The Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture was first held in 2011 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed audiences via livestream after being denied entry into South Africa, a symbolic beginning that aimed to underscore the Lecture's founding principle: peace speaks truth to power, says the foundation.

Since then, the Peace Lecture stage has hosted Kofi Annan, Graca Machel, Mary Robinson, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Advocate Thuli Madonsela and Melinda Gates, among others, leaders who, like Tutu, aim to embody moral courage and global citizenship, adds the foundation.

"This year's theme resonates deeply with Tutu's lifelong conviction that 'we are made for togetherness'," explains Jobson. "It's about finding humanity in the midst of conflict, and faith in the face of fracture."

About Dr Shashi Tharoor

Dr Tharoor is a Member of Parliament (India), former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, author of over 20 books and a global advocate for multilateralism and ethical leadership who aims to bring a voice of resonance to the Lecture, says the foundation.

"Dr Shashi Tharoor embodies the kind of moral and intellectual leadership our world urgently needs," says Jobson. "His reflections on faith, conflict and shared humanity will connect Africa's moral leadership tradition with the world's call for compassion, accountability and collective action."

Youth Voices at the Centre

Underscoring the Foundation's commitment to nurturing future leaders, this year's Lecture also spotlights the winners of the Tutu Legacy Foundation Youth School Debate, hosted in partnership with the Metro East Education District (MEED) earlier in 2025, says the foundation.

In August 2025, under the theme, "Our Community. Our Responsibility," 130 learners and 30 teachers from across the Western Cape came together to debate the meaning of shared responsibility and Ubuntu. Their insights aimed to illuminate the path toward empathy-based leadership, a reminder that, "responsibility isn't a burden; it's a light we carry together," adds the foundation.

"These young people are already leading with Ubuntu," adds Jobson. "They remind us that the next generation doesn't just inherit Tutu's legacy, they are expanding it."

Peace in Action: 'The Letters for Peace' Campaign

This Lecture is accompanied by the 'Letters for Peace' campaign, a global invitation for people to share their personal reflections on what peace means to them. Each "letter" written, spoken, or visual aims to contribute to a growing digital wall of peace that is displayed at the Lecture on Thursday, 20 November. The campaign aims to honour Archbishop Tutu's belief that "words can be bridges," transforming individual acts of expression into a collective call for compassion, says the foundation.

Event Details

  • Date: Thursday, 20 November.
  • Time: 15:00 SAST.
  • Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
  • Complimentary Tickets: Available via Quicket.

"Peace has never been the absence of conflict, it's the presence of justice, love and action," concludes Jobson. "When we pause to listen and speak from the heart, our words become bridges and promises, and peace becomes something we do, one person, one act, one moment at a time."

For more information, visit www.tutu.org.za. You can also follow the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor