In the soaring palace of Uruguay’s parliament, left-wing presidents from the region have come to remember former President Jose Mujica as a generous and charismatic leader whose legacy of humility remained an example for the world’s politicians.

José "Pepe" Mujica, former president of Uruguay and a symbol of the Latin American left, died Tuesday at the age of 89 in Montevideo after a battle with esophageal cancer. "With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Pepe Mujica.