Before his burial ceremony was elegantly performed in St Mary’s Cathedral in Ranchi, the mortal remains of Emeritus Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, the first and only Asian tribal to have become Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church,was brought from Father Constant Leavens Hospital and Research Center in Mander to St. Mary’s Basilica. 

A human chain was formed on the road during his 33 km mortal journey from Mandar to Ranchi’s Purulia Road. And a large group of mo bike riders led the funeral hearse carrying the body of Emeritus Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo. 

During this period, NH-75 remained one-way from Mandar to Ranchi. Tributes were paid to him at various places. Most of them were followers and students of Catholic Church run schools. 

 It is noteworthy that Archbishop Cardinal Toppo died on October 4 during treatment at Father Constant Leavens Hospital and Research Centre, Mandar. Since then his body has been kept safe in the mortuary of the hospital itself. The burial function took place in St Mary’s Cathedral in Ranchi today (on October 11).  

Five days back Archbishop Felix Toppo and Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi Theodore Mascarenhas in a joint statement to the media had informed that the funeral mass of Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo would be held on October 11 afternoon at Loyala ground in Ranchi, followed by the burial service on the same day at St Mary’s Cathedral. Today, thousands paid humble tributes to him along the road sides and at the burial ground.

Many of them remembered his deeds toward the poorest of the people and pro active role he had played by backing the movement for bifurcation of Bihar and creation of Jharkhand.