Johannesburg. – President Jacob Zuma yesterday congratulated Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu for being awarded the 2013 Templeton Prize.

"We are extremely proud of this recognition to one of our own, the revered Archbishop Tutu," Zuma said in a statement.

"Even in his retirement, the Archbishop continues to inspire our country and its people to do more every day to realise the universal goal of a better life for all. This honour is therefore well-deserved indeed."

Agence France Press yesterday reported that Tutu was awarded the US1.7 million (around R15.7m) prize for his lifelong work to promote "love and forgiveness".

The 81-year-old Nobel peace laureate, who rose to fame in the 1980’s as a vocal opponent of South Africa’s white-minority apartheid regime, would be presented with the award at a ceremony in London next month.

The Templeton Prize was conceived by American-born British stock investor Sir John Templeton, who felt the Nobel Prize recognised only the contribution of science to humanity, but failed to honour religion, the presidency said. The first winner was Mother Teresa in 1973.