Telesphore Toppo
Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Cardinal (* October 15, 1939 in Chainpur, India) is Archbishop of Ranchi.
Life
Telesphore Placidus Toppo received by theological and philosophical studies in 1969, the sacrament of Holy Orders. Further studies led him to the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. After some years in pastoral care and higher education service, he was appointed on 8 June 1978 as Bishop of Dumka. He received his episcopal consecration Archbishop Pius Kerketta on 7 October of the same year. 1984 Pope John Paul II appointed him to Koadjutorerzbischof, a year later as Archbishop of Ranchi. In 2003 Toppo was taken as cardinal priest with the titular church of Sacro Cuore di Gesù agonizzante a Vitinia in the College of Cardinals.
He was President of the Indian Bishops' Conference.
Fifth Marian Dogma
The cardinal asked Pope Benedict XVI. in 2008 aims to introduce a fifth Marian dogma on Mary as co-redeemer. Such a declaration would make it easier for non-Catholics to understand the Mother of God. This also assisted Cardinal Luis Aponte Martínez, Archbishop Emeritus of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Archbishop of Ernakulam- Angamaly, India; Cardinal Riccardo Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, Philippines, and Cardinal Ernesto Corripio y Ahumada, Archbishop Emeritus of Mexico City. Helpful is a corresponding dogma in interreligious dialogue with Muslims, where Mary is familiar with the Koran. It applies there as most all women, sinless and virginal.
Memberships
Membership in the Roman Curia
Telesphore Placidus Toppo, Cardinal is a member of the following institutions of the Roman Curia:
- Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
- Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
- Pontifical Council for Culture (since 2009)
- Cardinal of the Istituto per le Opere Commission di Religione (since 2013)