His Holiness Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo (78) from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Ranchi, Jharkhand, according to Canon Law 401 § 1, and has appointed His Excellency Most Rev. Felix Toppo (70), SJ, until now Bishop of Jamshedpur, as the new Archbishop of Ranchi.
His Excellency, Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ, was born on 21 November, 1947, in Tongo, Diocese of Gumla, Jharkhand. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1968 and was ordained Priest on 14 April, 1982. He obtained a Masters in Psychology from the Gregorian University, Rome, in 1990. After serving the Jesuit Congregation in various capacities, as Director of Pre-Novices, Novice Master and Superior, he was elected Bishop of Jamshedpur on 14 June, 1997 and was ordained on 27 September, 1997. As Bishop, he was the Chairman of the JHAAN Regional Bishops’ Council (Jharkhand) and of two Regional Commissions; Vice-Chancellor of St. Albert’s College, Ranchi. He is a priest for 36 years and a bishop 20 years.
This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Sunday, 24 June, 2018, at noon local time, corresponding to 15:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.
