Leo XIV Appoints Indian Bishop: "No Opposition to Yoga"
The Archdiocese of Ranchi comprises about 180k Catholics, 35 parishes, more than 300 priests and over 1,000 religious sisters.
Born in Mandar on 20 November 1975, Monsignor Xalxo was ordained a priest in 2006.
Over the past two decades he has served in a variety of pastoral and administrative roles.
On July 5, 2019, Rev. Xalxo spoke with UcaNews.com about the Eastern meditation method yoga. He said that most Catholic schools in the Archdiocese practice yoga daily “to build up positive energy, good health, and mental stability.”
“There is no opposition to yoga in our schools. There are instances of our priests and nuns practicing it and teaching others,” he said.
Cardinal Ratzinger wrote in 1989 that Eastern methods including yoga are "not free from dangers and errors" harmful to Catholic spirituality.
A Product of the Inculturation Model of Cardinal Toppo
Monsignor Xalxo's career was forged under Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, the first tribal in Asia to become Cardinal.
After the ordination in 2006, Rev. Xalxo became personal secretary to Cardinal Toppo. He led Ranchi Archdiocese for 33 years (1985-2018).
Xalxo comes from the same Oraon/Kurukh tribal milieu as Cardinal Toppo.
Under Cardinal Toppo, the Ranchi Archdiocese became a global model for inculturation. Local tribal cultural elements - such as traditional drums (mandar), sacred garbs and tribal religious dances – were weaved into the Eucharist.
As Cardinal Toppo's secretary, Fr. Xalxo had a front-row seat to these developments.
Cardinal Toppo's mother bore the surname Xalxo, but there is no evidence for family relation.
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