Archbishop Tutu Visits Mandela in Hospital Archbishop Desmond Tutu visits Nelson Mandela in hospital and says the ailing former president is "peaceful"after marking his 95th birthday. Retired Anglican archbishop Tutu said Mandela was asleep when he visited the Pretoria hospital room. Tutu said he held Mandela's hand. Mandela has been hospitalized since June 8 with a recurring lung infection and is in critical but stable condition. Mandela family members said he has made "remarkable progress" in recent days, after fears that he was close to death. Mandela remains on a breathing ventilator. Thousands of South Africans and others around the world celebrated Mandela's birthday Thursday by working on community service projects. Tutu visited a school in Cape Town on Thursday to honor Mandela's birthday.