The mortal remains of Emeritus Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, the first and only Asian tribal to have become cardinal, will be buried in St Mary’s Cathedral in Ranchi on October 11.

Archbishop of Ranchi Felix Toppo and Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi Theodore Mascarenhas in a joint statement to the media informed that the funeral mass of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo would be held on October 11 afternoon at Loyola Ground in Ranchi followed by the burial service on the same day at St Mary’s Cathedral.

The statement also read that the mortal remains of Cardinal Toppo will be kept in the mortuary of the hospital.

“The corpse will be brought to the cathedral on October 10 where the faithful will be allowed to pay the final homage between 3pm and 8pm and on October 11 between 6am and 12 noon,” the statement informed.

Earlier in the day, Archbishop of Ranchi Felix Toppo met Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday and informed him about the last rites of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo.

“The chief minister said that all are deeply saddened by the demise of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo. He also recalled about his old relations with the Cardinal. Chief minister remembered his support and guidance and claimed that Cardinal Toppo always talked about the development and welfare of the society and
the state and described the
demise as a personal loss,” said a statement issued by the chief minister’s office on Thursday.

The statement also quoted the chief minister that the demise of Cardinal Toppo was a personal loss for the chief minister and family. The chief minister is likely to attend the funeral at the church.