Ranchi: Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo, Asia’s first tribal cardinal, on Good Friday prayed for the victims of terror attacks on Brussels and Missionaries of Charity nuns killed in Yemen.
The answer to all sufferings of mankind lies in the man who died on the cross for the sins of others, Cardinal Toppo told thousands of people in Ranchi, who attended the Good Friday services in Ranchi, capital of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.
Referring to Tuesday’s serial blasts in Brussels, capital of Belgium, that left at least 30 dead and scores of others injured, the cardinal said he would offer special prayers for the victims.
“There is too much violence across the world in the name of caste, creed and religion. Greed and lust have driven mankind to the brink of disaster,” lamented the cardinal who is the archbishop of Ranchi, the nerve center of India’s tribal Church.
Referring to the killing of 16 people, including four Mother Teresa nuns, in Yemen’s Aden city on March 4, the cardinal told The Telegraph newspaper of Kokataka, “Man has become cruel and I am deeply hurt.”
One of the nuns, Anselm Minj, was from Gumla, 95 km southwest of Ranchi.
Even such dismal situation, all hope is not lost, the cardinal said.
“The answer to all mankind’s sufferings lies in Easter and the man who died on the Cross on this day. It was a black Friday as Christ was betrayed for money by one of his own followers, arrested and nailed to the Cross and left to die. Love incarnate died on the Cross for our sins, but God the Father raised him from the dead. In Jesus, love triumphed over hatred, good over evil, mercy over sin. This is the message of Easter,” he explained.
Toppo underscored that peace alone could ensure prosperity. “Easter is about leaving ourselves behind, being close to those plagued by life’s troubles and sharing with the needy. Love is more powerful (than violence).”
On March 25, thousands of men, women and children assembled at Loyola Grounds on Purulia Road – a stone’s throw from Archbishop House, the cardinal’s official residence – to participate in the Good Friday services. The grounds were packed to capacity as priests and bishops recounted to the gathering the crucifixion that took place more than 2,000 years ago.
Addressing the gathering, Cardinal Toppo said: “The ultimate sacrifice that Christ made for the world was an example of life that Christians must follow. Christ, by making the sacrifice he made, showed his deep love for the less privileged and that is humanity.”