Telesphore Toppo

{{Short description|Catholic cardinal}} {{Use British English|date=March 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Cardinal | honorific_prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Telesphore Placidus Toppo | honorific_suffix = | title = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]]<br/>[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi|Archbishop Emeritus of Ranchi]] | image = Telesphore Toppo.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = Toppo in 2017 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | church = [[Roman Catholic Church]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi|Ranchi]] | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | see = | term_start = 7 August 1985 | term_end = 24 June 2018 | predecessor = [[Pius Kerketta]] | successor = [[Felix Toppo]] | opposed = | other_post = Cardinal Priest of [[Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia]] (2003–2023)  | ordination = 3 May 1969 | ordained_by = [[Franz von Streng]] | consecration = 7 October 1978 | consecrated_by = [[Pius Kerketta]] | cardinal = 21 October 2003 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope John Paul II]] | rank = Cardinal priest  | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|10|15|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Chainpur block, Gumla|Chainpur]], [[Bihar Province]], [[British India]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|10|04|1939|10|15|df=y}} | death_place = [[Ranchi]], [[Jharkhand]], India | buried = | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = Indian | religion = | residence = | parents = | previous_post = {{ubl|[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumka|Bishop of Dumka]] (1978–1984)|[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi|Coadjutor Archbishop of Ranchi]] (1984–1985)|Vice President of the [[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]] (1998–2002)|President of the [[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]] (2002–2005)|President of the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] (2004–2008)|President of the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] (2011–2013)}} | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | education = | alma_mater = {{ubl|[[St. Xavier's College, Ranchi]]|[[Pontifical Urban University]]}} | motto = {{lang|la|Parare viam Domini}}<br>('Prepare the way of the Lord', {{Bibleverse|Isaiah|40:3}}) | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = | coat_of_arms_alt = }} {{Infobox cardinal styles | name=Telesphore Placidus Toppo | dipstyle= [[His Eminence]] | offstyle=[[His Eminence|Your Eminence]] | relstyle= [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | See=Ranchi ([[emeritus]])| | image = Coat of arms of Telesphore Toppo.svg | image_size = 200px }} {{Ordination | ordained deacon by = | date of diaconal ordination = | place of diaconal ordination = | ordained priest by = Franz von Streng | date of priestly ordination = 3 May 1969 | place of priestly ordination = | consecrated by = Pius Kerketta | co-consecrators = {{ubl|Leo Tigga|Joseph Robert Rodericks}} | date of consecration = 7 October 1978 | place of consecration = | elevated by = [[Pope John Paul II]] | date of elevation = 21 October 2003 | sources = | bishop 1 = Stephen M. Tiru | consecration date 1 = 7 October 1986 | bishop 2 = Charles Soreng, S.J. | consecration date 2 = 9 February 1990 | bishop 3 = Michael Minj, S.J. | consecration date 3 = 22 August 1993 | bishop 4 = Joseph Minj | consecration date 4 = 24 August 1993 | bishop 5 = Thomas Kozhimala | consecration date 5 = 7 October 1996 | bishop 6 = Felix Toppo, S.J. | consecration date 6 = 27 September 1997 | bishop 7 = Julius Marandi | consecration date 7 = 7 October 1997 | bishop 8 = Gabriel Kujur, S.J. | consecration date 8 = 8 January 1998 | bishop 9 = Vincent Barwa | consecration date 9 = 8 November 1998 | bishop 10 = Victor Henry Thakur | consecration date 10 = 11 November 1998 | bishop 11 = Paul Alois Lakra | consecration date 11 = 5 April 2006 | bishop 12 = John Barwa, S.V.D. | consecration date 12 = 19 April 2006 | bishop 13 = Clement Tirkey | consecration date 13 = 23 April 2006 | bishop 14 = Paul Toppo | consecration date 14 = 24 May 2006 | bishop 15 = Kurien Valiakandathil | consecration date 15 = 27 February 2007 | bishop 16 =Angelus Kujur, S.J. | consecration date 16 = 18 April 2007 | bishop 17 = Binay Kandulna | consecration date 17 = 30 November 2012 | bishop 18 = Emmanuel Kerketta | consecration date 18 = 2 February 2010 | bishop 19 = Jojo Anand | consecration date 19 = 8 December 2012 | bishop 20 = Kishore Kumar Kujur | consecration date 20 = 29 September 2013 | bishop 21 = Telesphore Bilung, S.V.D. | consecration date 21 = 30 August 2014 | bishop 22 = Theodore Mascarenhas, S.F.X. | consecration date 22 = 30 August 2014 | bishop 23 =Cajetan Francis Osta | consecration date 23 = 22 October 2014 | bishop 24 = Vincent Aind | consecration date 24 = 14 June 2015 }}

'''Telesphore Placidus Toppo''' (15 October 1939 – 4 October 2023) was an Indian prelate of the [[Catholic Church]] and a member of the [[Adivasi|aboriginal tribal community]] who was archbishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi| Archdiocese of Ranchi]] from 1985 to 2018, after serving as coadjutor there for a year. He was [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumka|bishop of Dumka]] from 1978 to 1984. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] in 2003, the first from India's tribal population.

A [[Polyglot (person)|polyglot]], Toppo spoke [[Sadri language|Sadri]], [[Kurukh language|Oraon]] (mother tongues), [[Hindi]] (official language), English and Italian.<ref name=elijah/>

==Biography== Telesphore Placidus Toppo was born in [[Chainpur block, Gumla|Chainpur]], in the state of [[Bihar]] and now in [[Jharkhand]], [[India]], on 15 October 1939, the eighth of ten children.<ref name=elijah/> He and his family belonged to [[Adivasi]] (indigenous tribal) community.<ref name=first>{{cite news | work= Catholic World News | access-date = 24 June 2018 | url = https://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=26789 | title = The First of His Kind| date= 1 December 2003 | first = Anto | last=Akkara}}</ref>

Toppo studied at [[St. Xavier's College, Ranchi]], and [[theology]] at the [[Pontifical Urbaniana University]] in Rome. He was ordained [[Catholic priesthood|priest]] on 3 May 1969 by Bishop Franz von Streng.

After a stint at Torpa (Jharkhand), as Headmaster of St Joseph's School and Director of the Lievens Vocational Center, Toppo was named Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumka|Dumka]] and received his episcopal consecration on 7 October 1978 from Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi|Ranchi]], capital of the [[Jharkhand]] state, on 8 November 1984. He became Archbishop there on 7 August 1985.

Toppo was made [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal-priest]] by [[Pope John Paul II]] on 21 October 2003, given the [[titular church]] of [[Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2003/documents/ns_lit_doc_20031021_titoli-diaconie-cardinali_en.html| title=Assignment of the Titles or the Deaconries to the new Cardinals |date=21 October 2003|publisher=[[Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff|Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations]]|access-date=16 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160819150158/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2003/documents/ns_lit_doc_20031021_titoli-diaconie-cardinali_en.html| archive-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> He was the third cardinal from India, the first [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Adivasi]] and the first tribal Indian.<ref name=first/><ref name=elijah/> He said the title of cardinal was a "mark of distinction for the tribal Church in India and recognition of its growth".<ref>{{cite news | work= Zenit | access-date = 24 June 2018 |date= 5 October 2003 | url = https://zenit.org/articles/archbishop-toppo-would-be-india-s-first-tribal-cardinal-2/ | title =Archbishop Toppo Would Be India's First Tribal Cardinal }}</ref>

Toppo was [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005|elector]] at the [[Papal conclave, 2005|2005 papal conclave]] that elected [[Joseph Ratzinger]] as [[Pope Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{cite web| access-date = 24 June 2018 | url = http://www.ranchiarchdiocese.org/ |url-status =dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060907155824/http://www.ranchiarchdiocese.org/ | archive-date= 7 September 2006 | title = Archbishop's Desk |website= Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese }}</ref>

Toppo was elected to serve a two-year term president of [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]] on two occasions, in 2004<ref>{{cite news | work= Zenit | access-date = 24 June 2018 |date= 15 January 2004 | url = https://www.zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-is-new-president-of-indian-episcopate/| title = Cardinal Toppo Is New President of Indian Episcopate}}</ref> and 2006.<ref>{{cite news | work= Zenit | access-date= 24 June 2018 | date= 14 February 2006 | url= https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-re-elected-by-bishops-conference/ | title= Cardinal Toppo Re-elected by Bishops' Conference }}{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He also served as president of the [[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]], made up of Latin Rite bishops only, from 2001 to 2004 and from 2011 to 2013.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

At the Synod of Bishops in 2008, he endorsed ecumenical efforts but warned against "dilution of the Truth" and called for agreement on a common date for the celebration of Easter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Synod Interventions of 16th General Congregation |url= https://zenit.org/articles/synod-interventions-of-16th-general-congregation/ |access-date=25 June 2018 |work=Zenit |date=16 October 2012}}</ref> At the Synod on the New Evangelization in 2012, he called on religious orders to commit themselves anew to missionary work.<ref>{{cite news |title=Full Text of Tuesday Morning Interventions at Synod of Bishops |url=https://zenit.org/articles/full-text-of-tuesday-morning-interventions-at-synod-of-bishops/ |access-date=25 June 2018 |work=Zenit |date=17 October 2012}}</ref>

Toppo was one of the [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013|cardinal electors]] who participated in the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 papal conclave]] that selected [[Pope Francis]].<ref>{{cite news | work= Zenit | access-date = 24 June 2018 |date= 12 March 2013| url =https://zenit.org/articles/list-of-cardinal-electors/ | title =List of Cardinal Electors }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.zenit.org/article-21743?l=english | work = Zenit | url-status = dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917093954/http://www.zenit.org/article-21743?l=english |date=11 February 2008 | archive-date= 17 September 2008 |title= Cardinals' Letter Proclaiming Marian Dogma}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview | work= Zenit | url= https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-on-a-proposed-marian-dogma/ | date= 5 May 2008 | access-date= 24 June 2018 | title= Cardinal Toppo on a Proposed Marian Dogma | archive-date= 14 July 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190714071018/https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-on-a-proposed-marian-dogma/ | url-status= dead }}</ref>

Toppo sat on the Board of World Religious Leaders for [[the Elijah Interfaith Institute]].<ref name=elijah>{{cite web| url= http://elijah-interfaith.org/world-religious-leaders-activity/the-elijah-board-of-world-religious-leaders/christian-leaders |title= Christian Leaders: Members of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders | access-date=25 June 2018| website= Elijah Interfaith Institute |date= 26 April 2015 | url-status=live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170824201135/http://elijah-interfaith.org/world-religious-leaders-activity/the-elijah-board-of-world-religious-leaders/christian-leaders | archive-date= 24 August 2017 }}</ref>

Pope Francis accepted Toppo's resignation as Archbishop of Ranchi on 24 June 2018, announcing as his successor [[Felix Toppo]], Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur|Jamshedpur]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://mattersindia.com/2018/06/new-archbishop-for-ranchi-appointed/ | work=Matters India | access-date = 24 June 2018 | date =24 June 2018 | title = New Archbishop For Ranchi Appointed}}</ref>

Telesphore Toppo died at the Constant Lievens Hospital & Research Center in Mandar, on 4 October 2023, at the age of 83.<ref name=death>{{cite news | access-date = 5 October 2023 | date = 4 October 2023 | url = https://www.ucanews.com/amp/indias-first-tribal-cardinal-toppo-dies/102803 | work = UCA News | title = India's first tribal Cardinal Toppo dies }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * {{cite web| access-date = 26 November 2017| title= Toppo Card. Telesphore Placidus |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_toppo_tp.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070558/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_toppo_tp.html }} * {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130102061705/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=220 Biography at catholic-pages.com]}}

{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Leo Tigga}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumka|Bishop of Dumka]]|years=8 June 1978 – 8 November 1984}} {{s-aft|after=[[Stephen M. Tiru|Stephen Tiru]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=Pius Kerketta}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi|Archbishop of Ranchi]]|years=7 August 1985 – 24 June 2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Felix Toppo]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Patrick Paul D'Souza]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India|Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]]|years=1998 – 2002}} {{s-aft|after=[[Valerian D'Souza]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Henry Sebastian D'Souza]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India|President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]]|years=2002 – 2005}} {{s-aft|after=[[Oswald Gracias]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Mario Luigi Ciappi]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia|Cardinal-Priest of Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia]]|years=21 October 2003 – 4 October 2023}} {{s-vac}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Cyril Baselios Malancharuvil|Cyril Baselios]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India|President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]]|years=12 January 2004 – 19 February 2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[Varkey Vithayathil]]}} {{s-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Oswald Gracias]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Conference of Catholic Bishops of India|President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India]]|years=12 January 2011 – February 2013}} {{s-aft|after=[[Oswald Gracias]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toppo, Telesphore}} [[Category:1939 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in India]] [[Category:Indian cardinals]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope John Paul II]] [[Category:Pontifical Urban University alumni]] [[Category:Adivasi people]] [[Category:People from Saharsa district]]