Dr Leo Cornelio installed as the new Archbishop of Bhopal

Archbishop Leo Cornelio who is the head of the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh was installed as the new Archbishop of Bhopal on Sunday, Sep. 16. The function began with a Holy Mass performed by new Archbishop Dr Leo Cornelio and the out–going Archbishop Dr Pascal Topno.

About 8000 people from Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh participated in the function after which followed the installation and felicitation ceremony of the new Archbishop.

Some important political figures that attended the felicitation function was Governor Dr Balram Jakhar, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi, Union ministers Suresh Pachauri and Kantilal Bhuria, Vatican Ambassador to India Dr Pedro Lopas Quintana, ex–chief ministers MP Kailash Joshi, Babulal Gaur, ministers Vijay Shah, Kamal Patel, Rustam Singh, Bhopal Mayor Sunil Sood and senior officers of the state.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh who presented a sapling as a mark of respect said: "One who helps poor and needy really serves God. Helping poor is the biggest religion of mankind."

Dr Leo on the occasion said, as a new Archbishop and Head of the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh – his top priority would be the overall development of society and every person who is part of it.

"I will lay special emphasis to promote education, employment and human value in the society."

He emphasized on extending help without looking into the religion, caste, culture and color barriers. "Welfare of entire human kind stands top in my priority."

The Archbishop was born on March 14, 1945 in Kukkunje, near the coastal city of Udupi in Karnataka.

In his short span of service, the archbishop became a principal, parish priest, member of the CBCI Commission for Social Communications and also the financial administrator for the Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh Regional Major Seminaries at Bhopal and Ashta.