Nationality Indian Appointed November 8, 1984 Rank Cardinal-Priest Consecration October 7, 1978 | Predecessor Pius Kerketta SJ Ordination May 3, 1969 Installed 7 August 1985 Name Telesphore Toppo | |
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Denomination Roman Catholic Latin Rite Other posts Sacro Cuore di Gesu agonizzante a Vitinia Previous post Roman Catholic Diocese of Dumka | ||
Created cardinal October 21, 2003 | ||
Cardinal telesphore toppo speaks about true life in god in 2007
Telesphore Placidus Toppo (born 15 October 1939 in Chainpur, Jharkhand, India) is an Indian Cardinal and Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ranchi.
Contents
- Cardinal telesphore toppo speaks about true life in god in 2007
- Early life and ordination
- Bishop
- Cardinal
- Mariology
- Eucharist and mission work
- Interfaith Dialogue
- References
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 consecrated 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. 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 Conference of Catholic Bishops of India– Latin Rite (CCBI-LR) from 2003 to 2005.
He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis.
Mariology
On 11 February 2008, he advocated for the declaration of a new Marian dogma recognizing Mary as the Mediatrix of graces and Co-Redemptrix of humanity, while affirming Jesus as the sole and unique mediator.
Eucharist and mission work
He pronounced a speech on the Eucharist and mission work at the Eucharistic Congress of Québec.
Interfaith Dialogue
Toppo currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.