Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, the Archbishop Emeritus of Ranchi, India, passed away yesterday after battling a prolonged illness. He was just a few days shy of his 84th birthday, as he was born on October 15, 1939.
Ordained as a priest in 1969, he served as the personal secretary to the Archbishop of Ranchi before being appointed as the Bishop of Dumka at the young age of 39, by Pope John Paul II, in June 1978.
On November 8, 1984, he was elevated to the position of Coadjutor Archbishop of Ranchi, and on August 7, 1985, he succeeded as the full-fledged Archbishop.
From 2002 to 2005, he held the position of President of the Latin-rite Indian Episcopal Conference, and from 2004 to 2008, he led the Indian Episcopal Conference, that brings together bishops from three rites in the country: the Latin, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankara rites.
In October 2003, during the final consistory of Pope John Paul II’s pontificate, Cardinal Toppo was elevated to the rank of Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and was assigned the titular presbyteral title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Agony at Vitinia.
Throughout his ecclesiastical career, he actively participated in the workings of the Church, including attending the General Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops in 1990, 2001, and 2005. In the latter assembly, he even served as a delegated President. Additionally, he contributed to the Special Assemblies for Asia in 1998 and for Europe in 1999.
In two momentous events, he participated in the conclaves of 2005 and 2013, which led to the election of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, respectively.
His service concluded on June 24, 2018, when Pope Francis accepted his resignation as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ranchi due to age limitations.
