AP PHOTOS: Thousands Gather to Remember Mandela They gathered by the tens of thousands in a Soweto soccer stadium, braving a cold rain to pay respects to Nelson Mandela: world leaders, family members and South Africans whose lives he helped change in his decades-long fight against apartheid. The list of dignitaries was long, ranging from President Barack Obama to Cuban President Raul Castro. And a handshake between those two men epitomized the spirit of reconciliation Mandela came to represent. Here are some images from the service: