Telesphore Toppo
| His Eminence Telesphore Placidus Toppo | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal, Archbishop of Ranchi | |
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| See | Ranchi |
| Appointed | 8 November 1984 |
| Installed | 7 August 1985 |
| Predecessor | Pius Kerketta SJ |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia |
| Orders | |
| Ordination |
3 May 1969 by Franz von Streng |
| Consecration |
7 October 1978 by Pius Kerketta |
| Created Cardinal | 21 October 2003 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
15 October 1939 Chainpur, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Latin Rite |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | Parare Viam Domini (prepare the way of the lord) – Isaiah 40:3 |
| Coat of arms |
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| Styles of Telesphore Placidus Toppo | |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Telesphore Placidus Toppo (born 15 October 1939 in Chainpur, Jharkhand, India) is a Cardinal and Archbishop of Ranchi in the Roman Catholic Church.
Early life and ordination
Born the 8th of 10 children, Toppo studied at St. Xavier's College, Ranchi and Theology at the Urbanianum, Rome. He was ordained priest on 3 May 1969 by Bishop Franz von Streng.
Bishop
After a stint at Torpa (Jharkhand), as Headmaster of St Joseph's School and Director of the Lievens Vocational Center, Toppo was ordained bishop for the diocese of Dumka (7 October 1978) by Archbishop Pius Kerketta, S.J., and soon transferred to Ranchi (Capital city of the Jharkhand state) first as Co-adjutor and then as Archbishop (1985). A polyglot, Toppo speaks Oraon, Hindi, Sadri, English and Italian.
Cardinal
Toppo was made Cardinal-Priest by Pope John Paul II on 21 October 2003, given the titular church of Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia.[1] He was elector at the 2005 papal conclave that elected Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI.
He was the president of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India from 12 January 2004 to 19 February 2008. He also served as president of Catholic Conference of the Bishops of India (Latin) from 2003 to 2005.
He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.
Views
Mariology
On 11 February 2008, he called for the proclamation of a new marian dogma on Mary, Mediatrix of graces, Co-Redemptrix of humanity, with Jesus as sole and unique mediator.[2]
Eucharist and mission work
He pronounced a speech on the Eucharist and mission work at the Eucharistic Congress of Québec.[3]
Interfaith Dialogue
Toppo currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.[4]