# Telesphore Toppo

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Catholic cardinal

His Eminence Telesphore Placidus Toppo Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Ranchi Toppo in 2017 Church Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese Ranchi Installed 7 August 1985 Term ended 24 June 2018 Predecessor Pius Kerketta Successor Felix Toppo Other post Cardinal Priest of Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia (2003–2023) Previous posts Bishop of Dumka (1978–1984) 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) Orders Ordination 3 May 1969 by Franz von Streng Consecration 7 October 1978 by Pius Kerketta Created cardinal 21 October 2003 by Pope John Paul II Rank Cardinal priest Personal details Born (1939-10-15)15 October 1939 Chainpur, Bihar Province, British India Died 4 October 2023(2023-10-04) (aged 83) Ranchi, Jharkhand, India Alma mater St. Xavier's College, Ranchi Pontifical Urban University Motto Parare viam Domini ('Prepare the way of the Lord', Isaiah 40:3)

Styles of Telesphore Placidus Toppo Reference style His Eminence Spoken style Your Eminence Religious style Cardinal Informal style Cardinal See Ranchi (emeritus)

Ordination history of Telesphore Toppo History Priestly ordination Ordained by Franz von Streng Date 3 May 1969 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Pius Kerketta Co-consecrators Leo Tigga Joseph Robert Rodericks Date 7 October 1978 Cardinalate Elevated by Pope John Paul II Date 21 October 2003 Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Telesphore Toppo as principal consecrator Stephen M. Tiru 7 October 1986 Charles Soreng, S.J. 9 February 1990 Michael Minj, S.J. 22 August 1993 Joseph Minj 24 August 1993 Thomas Kozhimala 7 October 1996 Felix Toppo, S.J. 27 September 1997 Julius Marandi 7 October 1997 Gabriel Kujur, S.J. 8 January 1998 Vincent Barwa 8 November 1998 Victor Henry Thakur 11 November 1998 Paul Alois Lakra 5 April 2006 John Barwa, S.V.D. 19 April 2006 Clement Tirkey 23 April 2006 Paul Toppo 24 May 2006 Kurien Valiakandathil 27 February 2007 Angelus Kujur, S.J. 18 April 2007 Binay Kandulna 30 November 2012 Emmanuel Kerketta 2 February 2010 Jojo Anand 8 December 2012 Kishore Kumar Kujur 29 September 2013 Telesphore Bilung, S.V.D. 30 August 2014 Theodore Mascarenhas, S.F.X. 30 August 2014 Cajetan Francis Osta 22 October 2014 Vincent Aind 14 June 2015

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

A [polyglot](/source/Polyglot_(person)), Toppo spoke [Sadri](/source/Sadri_language), [Oraon](/source/Kurukh_language) (mother tongues), [Hindi](/source/Hindi) (official language), English and Italian.[1]

## Biography

Telesphore Placidus Toppo was born in [Chainpur](/source/Chainpur_block%2C_Gumla), in the state of [Bihar](/source/Bihar) and now in [Jharkhand](/source/Jharkhand), [India](/source/India), on 15 October 1939, the eighth of ten children.[1] He and his family belonged to [Adivasi](/source/Adivasi) (indigenous tribal) community.[2]

Toppo studied at [St. Xavier's College, Ranchi](/source/St._Xavier's_College%2C_Ranchi), and [theology](/source/Theology) at the [Pontifical Urbaniana University](/source/Pontifical_Urbaniana_University) in Rome. He was ordained [priest](/source/Catholic_priesthood) 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 [Dumka](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Dumka) and received his episcopal consecration on 7 October 1978 from Archbishop Pius Kerketta SJ. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of [Ranchi](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Ranchi), capital of the [Jharkhand](/source/Jharkhand) state, on 8 November 1984. He became Archbishop there on 7 August 1985.

Toppo was made [cardinal-priest](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) by [Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) on 21 October 2003, given the [titular church](/source/Titular_church) of [Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia](/source/Sacro_Cuore_di_Ges%C3%B9_agonizzante_a_Vitinia).[3] He was the third cardinal from India, the first [Adivasi](/source/Scheduled_Castes_and_Scheduled_Tribes) and the first tribal Indian.[2][1] He said the title of cardinal was a "mark of distinction for the tribal Church in India and recognition of its growth".[4]

Toppo was [elector](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2005) at the [2005 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2005) that elected [Joseph Ratzinger](/source/Joseph_Ratzinger) as [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI).[5]

Toppo was elected to serve a two-year term president of [Catholic Bishops' Conference of India](/source/Catholic_Bishops'_Conference_of_India) on two occasions, in 2004[6] and 2006.[7] He also served as president of the [Conference of Catholic Bishops of India](/source/Conference_of_Catholic_Bishops_of_India), made up of Latin Rite bishops only, from 2001 to 2004 and from 2011 to 2013.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

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.[8] At the Synod on the New Evangelization in 2012, he called on religious orders to commit themselves anew to missionary work.[9]

Toppo was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2013) who participated in the [2013 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2013) that selected [Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis).[10]

On 11 February 2008, he called for the proclamation of a new Marian dogma on Mary, [Mediatrix](/source/Mediatrix) of graces, [Co-Redemptrix](/source/Co-Redemptrix) of humanity, with Jesus as sole and unique mediator.[11][12]

Toppo sat on the Board of World Religious Leaders for [the Elijah Interfaith Institute](/source/The_Elijah_Interfaith_Institute).[1]

Pope Francis accepted Toppo's resignation as Archbishop of Ranchi on 24 June 2018, announcing as his successor [Felix Toppo](/source/Felix_Toppo), Bishop of [Jamshedpur](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Jamshedpur).[13]

Telesphore Toppo died at the Constant Lievens Hospital & Research Center in Mandar, on 4 October 2023, at the age of 83.[14]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-elijah_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-elijah_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-elijah_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-elijah_1-3) ["Christian Leaders: Members of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders"](http://elijah-interfaith.org/world-religious-leaders-activity/the-elijah-board-of-world-religious-leaders/christian-leaders). *Elijah Interfaith Institute*. 26 April 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170824201135/http://elijah-interfaith.org/world-religious-leaders-activity/the-elijah-board-of-world-religious-leaders/christian-leaders) from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-first_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-first_2-1) Akkara, Anto (1 December 2003). ["The First of His Kind"](https://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=26789). *Catholic World News*. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Assignment of the Titles or the Deaconries to the new Cardinals"](https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2003/documents/ns_lit_doc_20031021_titoli-diaconie-cardinali_en.html). [Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations](/source/Office_for_the_Liturgical_Celebrations_of_the_Supreme_Pontiff). 21 October 2003. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160819150158/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2003/documents/ns_lit_doc_20031021_titoli-diaconie-cardinali_en.html) from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Archbishop Toppo Would Be India's First Tribal Cardinal"](https://zenit.org/articles/archbishop-toppo-would-be-india-s-first-tribal-cardinal-2/). *Zenit*. 5 October 2003. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Archbishop's Desk"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060907155824/http://www.ranchiarchdiocese.org/). *Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ranchiarchdiocese.org/) on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Cardinal Toppo Is New President of Indian Episcopate"](https://www.zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-is-new-president-of-indian-episcopate/). *Zenit*. 15 January 2004. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Cardinal Toppo Re-elected by Bishops' Conference"](https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-re-elected-by-bishops-conference/). *Zenit*. 14 February 2006. Retrieved 24 June 2018.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Synod Interventions of 16th General Congregation"](https://zenit.org/articles/synod-interventions-of-16th-general-congregation/). *Zenit*. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Full Text of Tuesday Morning Interventions at Synod of Bishops"](https://zenit.org/articles/full-text-of-tuesday-morning-interventions-at-synod-of-bishops/). *Zenit*. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["List of Cardinal Electors"](https://zenit.org/articles/list-of-cardinal-electors/). *Zenit*. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Cardinals' Letter Proclaiming Marian Dogma"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080917093954/http://www.zenit.org/article-21743?l=english). *Zenit*. 11 February 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.zenit.org/article-21743?l=english) on 17 September 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Cardinal Toppo on a Proposed Marian Dogma"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190714071018/https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-on-a-proposed-marian-dogma/). *Zenit* (Interview). 5 May 2008. Archived from [the original](https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-toppo-on-a-proposed-marian-dogma/) on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["New Archbishop For Ranchi Appointed"](http://mattersindia.com/2018/06/new-archbishop-for-ranchi-appointed/). *Matters India*. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-death_14-0)** ["India's first tribal Cardinal Toppo dies"](https://www.ucanews.com/amp/indias-first-tribal-cardinal-toppo-dies/102803). *UCA News*. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Telesphore Toppo](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Telesphore_Toppo)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Telesphore Placidus Toppo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Telesphore_Placidus_Toppo).

- ["Toppo Card. Telesphore Placidus"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_toppo_tp.html). [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070558/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_toppo_tp.html) from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.

- [Biography at catholic-pages.com](https://archive.today/20130102061705/http://www.catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=220)

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Leo Tigga Bishop of Dumka 8 June 1978 – 8 November 1984 Succeeded by Stephen Tiru Preceded by Pius Kerketta Archbishop of Ranchi 7 August 1985 – 24 June 2018 Succeeded by Felix Toppo Preceded by Patrick Paul D'Souza Vice-President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India 1998 – 2002 Succeeded by Valerian D'Souza Preceded by Henry Sebastian D'Souza President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India 2002 – 2005 Succeeded by Oswald Gracias Preceded by Mario Luigi Ciappi Cardinal-Priest of Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia 21 October 2003 – 4 October 2023 Vacant Preceded by Cyril Baselios President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India 12 January 2004 – 19 February 2008 Succeeded by Varkey Vithayathil Preceded by Oswald Gracias President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India 12 January 2011 – February 2013 Succeeded by Oswald Gracias

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Telesphore Toppo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telesphore_Toppo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telesphore_Toppo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.