Dalai Lama Says He Will Have Successor After His Death

The Dalia Lama said he had received multiple appeals from the Tibetan diaspora and Buddhists 'earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue' (Credit: AFP)

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet confirmed Wednesday that he will have a successor when he dies, reassuring Buddhist followers around the globe that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.

It is a landmark decision for Tibetans, many of whom had feared a future without a leader, as well as for global supporters who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule.