Leaders, celebrities and entertainers across the world paid tribute to Nelson Mandela.
President Obama issued a heartfelt homage to the fallen icon in a nationally televised address, praising Mandela for achieving “more than could be expected of any man.”
“We have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth,” Obama said in a nationally televised address shortly after news of Mandela’s death was announced. He said “He no longer belongs to us — he belongs to the ages.”
“His journey from a prisoner to a president embodied the promise that human beings — and countries — can change for the better,” Obama said. “And the fact that he did it all with grace and good humor, and an ability to acknowledge his own imperfections, only makes the man that much more remarkable.”
President Obama watches TV news coverage about the death of Nelson Mandela.
"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life," Obama said. “My very first political action, the first thing I ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics, was a protest against apartheid.”
'He no longer belongs to us,' Obama said of Mandela. 'He belongs to the ages.'
Former President Bill Clinton, who was the first serving American President to visit South Africa, praised the late icon as “one of (the world’s) finest human beings” and “a true friend.”
“History will remember Nelson Mandela as a champion for human dignity and freedom, for peace and reconciliation,” Clinton said in a statement. “We will remember him as a man of uncommon grace and compassion, for whom abandoning bitterness and embracing adversaries was not just a political strategy but a way of life.”
Former President George W. Bush, meanwhile, called Mandela “one of the great forces for freedom and equality of our time.”
“Laura and I join the people of South Africa and the world in celebrating the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,” Bush said in a statement. “He bore his burdens with dignity and grace, and our world is better off because of his example. This good man will be missed, but his contributions will live on forever.”
House Speaker John Boehner praised the icon as an “unrelenting voice for democracy.”
“(Mandela’s) ‘long walk to freedom’ showed an enduring faith in God and respect for human dignity,” Boehner said in a statement. “His perseverance in fighting the apartheid system will continue to inspire future generations.”
New York politicos weighed in on the historic figure as well.
“Today, we lost one of the most transformative and influential figures in modern history,” Mayor Bloomberg said Thursday. “Nelson Mandela was a global icon who broke the back of apartheid in South Africa and inspired generations of people around the world with his spirit of resolve and reconciliation.”
Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio expressed his condolences, too.
“We live in a far better world today because of the life and work of Nelson Mandela,” de Blasio .
Gov. Cuomo praised the luminary for setting a “profound example of humanity.”
“Nelson Mandela showed that a dedicated person of courage actually can change the course of history,” Cuomo tweeted.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali also immediately expressed his fondness for the late leader.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Mandela,” Ali said in a statement provided to NBC News. “His was a life filled with purpose and hope; hope for himself, his country and the world.”
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron saluted Mandela as “a hero of our time.”
“A great light has gone out in the world,” Cameron tweeted.
Former Mayor David Dinkins (center) observes moment of silent for Nelson Mandela during a memorial service Thursday for political consultant Bill Lynch.
Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton received the news of Mandela’s passing as they attended the premiere of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” which chronicles the leader’s storied life.
'We were just reminded what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. It's very sad,” Prince William reportedly said as he departed the theater.
One of Mandela’s daughters, Zindzi Mandela, was also in attendance at the premiere, on behalf of her family. She was reportedly told of her father’s deteriorating condition just before the film began.
Irish singer and businessman Bono, meanwhile, led a chorus of words from the entertainment industry, saying Mandela “played with the highest stakes.
“He put his family, his country, his time, his life on the line, and he won most of these contests,” Bono said in a statement. “Stubborn til the end for all the right reasons, it felt like he very nearly outstared his maker. Today, finally, he blinked. And some of us cry, knowing our eyes were opened to so much because of him."
President Obama issued a heartfelt homage to the fallen icon in a nationally televised address, praising Mandela for achieving “more than could be expected of any man.”“We have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth,” Obama said in a nationally televised address shortly after news of Mandela’s death was announced. He said “He no longer belongs to us — he belongs to the ages.”
“His journey from a prisoner to a president embodied the promise that human beings — and countries — can change for the better,” Obama said. “And the fact that he did it all with grace and good humor, and an ability to acknowledge his own imperfections, only makes the man that much more remarkable.”
President Obama watches TV news coverage about the death of Nelson Mandela.
"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life," Obama said. “My very first political action, the first thing I ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics, was a protest against apartheid.”
'He no longer belongs to us,' Obama said of Mandela. 'He belongs to the ages.'
Former President Bill Clinton, who was the first serving American President to visit South Africa, praised the late icon as “one of (the world’s) finest human beings” and “a true friend.”“History will remember Nelson Mandela as a champion for human dignity and freedom, for peace and reconciliation,” Clinton said in a statement. “We will remember him as a man of uncommon grace and compassion, for whom abandoning bitterness and embracing adversaries was not just a political strategy but a way of life.”
Former President George W. Bush, meanwhile, called Mandela “one of the great forces for freedom and equality of our time.”
“Laura and I join the people of South Africa and the world in celebrating the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,” Bush said in a statement. “He bore his burdens with dignity and grace, and our world is better off because of his example. This good man will be missed, but his contributions will live on forever.”
House Speaker John Boehner praised the icon as an “unrelenting voice for democracy.”
“(Mandela’s) ‘long walk to freedom’ showed an enduring faith in God and respect for human dignity,” Boehner said in a statement. “His perseverance in fighting the apartheid system will continue to inspire future generations.”
New York politicos weighed in on the historic figure as well.
“Today, we lost one of the most transformative and influential figures in modern history,” Mayor Bloomberg said Thursday. “Nelson Mandela was a global icon who broke the back of apartheid in South Africa and inspired generations of people around the world with his spirit of resolve and reconciliation.”
Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio expressed his condolences, too.
“We live in a far better world today because of the life and work of Nelson Mandela,” de Blasio .
Gov. Cuomo praised the luminary for setting a “profound example of humanity.”
“Nelson Mandela showed that a dedicated person of courage actually can change the course of history,” Cuomo tweeted.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali also immediately expressed his fondness for the late leader.
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Mandela,” Ali said in a statement provided to NBC News. “His was a life filled with purpose and hope; hope for himself, his country and the world.”
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron saluted Mandela as “a hero of our time.”
“A great light has gone out in the world,” Cameron tweeted.
Former Mayor David Dinkins (center) observes moment of silent for Nelson Mandela during a memorial service Thursday for political consultant Bill Lynch.
Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton received the news of Mandela’s passing as they attended the premiere of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” which chronicles the leader’s storied life.
'We were just reminded what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. It's very sad,” Prince William reportedly said as he departed the theater.
One of Mandela’s daughters, Zindzi Mandela, was also in attendance at the premiere, on behalf of her family. She was reportedly told of her father’s deteriorating condition just before the film began.
Irish singer and businessman Bono, meanwhile, led a chorus of words from the entertainment industry, saying Mandela “played with the highest stakes.
“He put his family, his country, his time, his life on the line, and he won most of these contests,” Bono said in a statement. “Stubborn til the end for all the right reasons, it felt like he very nearly outstared his maker. Today, finally, he blinked. And some of us cry, knowing our eyes were opened to so much because of him."
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