Tendzin Gyatsho was born on July 6, 1935 in Takster in the eastern Tibetan province of Amdo. He was enthroned as the 14th Dalai Lama in 1950.

Until the occupation of Tibet by China in 1959, he was head of the Tibetan government in addition to his office as spiritual leader. Since then, the Buddhist monk has lived in exile and campaigned internationally for the interests of his fellow countrymen.

In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent policy for a free Tibet. On July 27, 2005, the state of Hesse honored the Dalai Lama's work by awarding him the Hessian Peace Prize.

During this visit to Wiesbaden, Lord Mayor Diehl received the distinguished guest in the ballroom of the town hall. He praised the Dalai Lama's commitment to peace and was honored by his visit to Wiesbaden.

Tendzin Gyatsho thanked him in his modest manner and then signed the city's Golden Book.

He resigned as head of the government-in-exile in 2011 in order to concentrate on his function as spiritual leader.