The passing of His Eminence Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo is a great loss for the Catholic Church and the world. He was a compassionate pastor and visionary leader who dedicated his life to the service of others.
The Cardinal was born in 1936 in a small village in India. He was ordained a priest in 1962 and a bishop in 1978. In 1991, he was appointed Archbishop of Ranchi, India, and was elevated to Cardinal in 2003.
He has been a strong advocate for human rights and the poor. He opposed discrimination and injustice and worked for peace and reconciliation in his country. Likewise, he was also a leader in the protection of the environment.
Not only that, but he was a man of great faith and hope. His life and work testified to his love for God and commitment to building a more just and sustainable world.
We publish below the telegram of condolence for the death, yesterday, of His Eminence Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Archbishop Emeritus of Ranchi (India), of the Title of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vitinia, sent by the Holy Father Francis to the Archbishop of Ranchi, H.E. Felix Toppo, S.I:
Telegram of the Holy Father
THE MOST REVEREND FELIX TOPPO
ARCHBISHOP OF RANCHI
HAVING LEARNED WITH SADNESS OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL TELESPHORE TOPPO, ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS OF RANCHI, PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES WHICH I EXTEND ALSO TO THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE. JOINING YOU IN COMMENDING HIS NOBLE SOUL TO THE INFINITE MERCIES OF GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, I RECALL WITH IMMENSE GRATITUDE THE LATE CARDINAL’S YEARS OF DEDICATED PRIESTLY AND EPISCOPAL MINISTRY TO THE LOCAL CHURCHES OF DUMKA AND RANCHI, AS WELL AS HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WIDER CHURCH IN INDIA AND TO THE APOSTOLIC SEE. HIS SERVICE WAS ALWAYS MARKED BY ZEAL FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL, DEVOTION TO THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND GENEROUS PASTORAL CARE OF THE POOR AND THOSE IN NEED. TO ALL WHO MOURN CARDINAL TOPPO’S PASSING IN THE SURE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, I CORDIALLY IMPART MY BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF CONSOLATION AND PEACE IN THE LORD.
FRANCISCUS PP
