Roman Catholicism in Madagascar

The Catholic Church in Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope

Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...

 and curia

Curia

A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...

 in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

.

About one quarter of the population is Catholic - about four million adherents in total. There are 21 diocese

Diocese

A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

s including five archdioceses. Below is a list of the Dioceses, Archdioceses and the Bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

s and Archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

s of each unit.

• Antananarivo
  Archdiocese of Antananarivo
  Archdiocese of Antananarivo is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Madagascar. It is based in the capital city of Antananarivo. The archdiocese was, for many years, one the bases for the spreading of Catholicism in Madagascar and the surrounding French Indian Ocean territories like Réunion, Comoros and...
  
   - Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona
  Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona
  Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona is the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Antananarivo in Antananarivo, Madagascar. He was ordained priest on 28 December 1975. He was the Bishop of the Diocese of Ambanja from November 1998 until his appointment to the Archbishop seat in December 2005. Since his...
  
  
  • Antsirabé - Félix Ramananarivo
  • Miarinarivo - Jean Claude Randrianarisoa
  • Tsiroanomandidy - Gustavo Bombin Espino
• Antsiranana
  Archdiocese of Antsiranana
  The Archdiocese of Antsiranana is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Madagascar. It was elevated to an Archdiocese in December 1958 during the transition from French colony to independence. Its current name was adopted in 1989, where it previously had been called the Archdiocese of Diego Suarez. It...
  
   - Michel Malo
  • Ambanja - Rosario Saro Vella, S.D.B.
  • Mahajanga - Joseph Ignace Randrianasolo
    Joseph Ignace Randrianasolo
    Joseph Ignace Randrianasolo was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mahajanga, Madagascar....
    
    
  • Port-Bergé - Armand Toasy
• Fianarantsoa
  Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
  The Archdiocese of Fianaranintsoa is a Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Madagascar. It was elevated to an Archdiocese in December 1958 during the transition from French colony to independence. It had a total population of about 1,153,750 in 2004. About 40.5% of the residents were Catholic. 121 Priests...
  
   - Fulgence Rabemahafaly
  Fulgence Rabemahafaly
  Archbishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly is the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. He was ordained priest on 14 August 1980 in Fianarantsoa. He was the Bishop of the Diocese of Ambositra from June 1999 until his appointment to the Archbishop seat in October...
  
  
  • Ambositra
    Diocese of Ambositra
    The Diocese of Ambositra is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Ambositra and was erected on 3 June 1999. It performs the Latin Rite. The Diocese covers approximately . As of 2004, the diocese population was about 696,000, with...
    
     - Fidelis Rakotonarivo
    Fidelis Rakotonarivo
    Bishop Fidelis Rakotonarivo is the head of the Diocese of Ambositra in Ambositra, Madagascar. He was ordained priest on 15 August 1992 by the Society of Jesus. He was appointed and confirmed as bishop during 2004....
    
    
  • Farafangana
    Diocese of Farafangana
    The Diocese of Farafangana is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Farafangana and was erected on 8 April 1957. It performs the Latin or Rite. The Diocese covers approximately . As of 2004, the diocese population was about 900,000,...
    
     - Benjamin Marc Ramaroson
    Benjamin Marc Ramaroson
    Bishop Benjamin Marc Ramaroson is the bishop of the Diocese of Farafangana in Farafangana, Madagascar. He was ordained priest on 15 August 1984 for the Congregation of the Mission. He was appointed and confirmed as bishop in November 2005.-External links:Official website http://www.diocesefaraf.com*...
    
    
  • Ihosy
    Diocese of Ihosy
    The Diocese of Ihosy is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Ihosy and was erected on 13 April 1967. It performs the Latin or Rite. The Diocese covers approximately 40,990 km . As of 2004, the diocese population was about...
    
     - Philippe Ranaivomanana
    Philippe Ranaivomanana
    Bishop Philippe Ranaivomanana is the bishop of the Diocese of Ihosy in Ihosy, Madagascar. He was ordained priest on 16 October 1977. He was appointed and confirmed as bishop in January 1999.-External links:*...
    
    
  • Mananjary
    Diocese of Mananjary
    The Diocese of Mananjary is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Mananjary and was erected on 9 April 1968. It performs the Latin Rite. The Diocese covers approximately 14,270 km . As of 2004, the diocese population was about...
    
     - - José Alfredo Caires de Nobrega
    José Alfredo Caires de Nobrega
    Bishop José Alfredo Caires de Nobrega is the bishop of the Diocese of Mananjary in Mananjary, Madagascar. He was ordained priest on 28 December 1980 by the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He was appointed and confirmed as bishop in October 2000.-External links:*...
    
    
• Toamasina - Desire Tsarahazana
  • Ambatondrazaka - Antoine Scopelliti
  • Fenoarivo Atsinanana - Marcellin Randriamamonjy
  • Moramanga
    Diocese of Moramanga
    The Diocese of Moramanga is located in the east of Madagascar. It is a suffragan diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Archdiocese of Toamasina....
    
     - Gaetano Di Pierro
• Toliara - Fulgence Rabeony
  • Morombe - Zygmunt Robaszkiewicz
  • Morondava - Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina
  • Tôlagnaro - Vincent Rakotozafy

External links

• Profile of the Catholic Church in Madagascar