Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsirabe

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsirabe (Latin: Antsiraben(sis)) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Antananarivo (one of five in Madagascar; in the national capital), yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Diocese of Antsirabe Dioecesis Antsirabensis
Our Lady of La Salette Cathedral
Location
Country	Madagascar
Metropolitan	Antananarivo
Statistics
Area	16,000 km2 (6,200 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 2006) 1,355,000 799,574 (59.0%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Our Lady of La Salette Cathedral
Current leadership
Pope	Leo XIV
Bishop	Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina (nominiated 10/07/2023) [1]

Interior of the Cathedral

Its cathedral episcopal see is the (Marian) Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, in the city of Antsirabe, Antananarivo Province.

Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 892,713 Catholics (45.4% of 1,967,703 total) on 16,000 km² in 29 parishes and 2 missions with 125 priests (64 diocesan, 61 religious), 519 lay religious (198 brothers, 321 sisters) and 74 seminarians.

History

• Established on May 15, 1913 as Apostolic Prefecture of Betafo, on Malagassy territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar.
• Promoted on August 24, 1918 as Apostolic Vicariate of Betafo, hence entitled to a titular bishop.
• Renamed on January 10, 1921 as Apostolic Vicariate of Antsirabe after its new see.
• Promoted on September 14, 1955 as Diocese of Antsirabe.

Bishops

Ordinaries

(Roman Rite, mostly members of missionary Latin congregations)

Apostolic Prefect of Betafó

• Father François-Joseph Dantin, Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette (M.S.) (born France) (1913.06.24 – 1918.08.24 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Betafo

• François-Joseph Dantin, M.S. (see above 1918.08.24 – 1921.01.10 see below), Titular Bishop of Satala in Armenia (1918.08.24 – death 1941.07.05)

Apostolic Vicars of Antsirabe

• François-Joseph Dantin, M.S. (see above 1921.01.10 – death 1941.07.05)
• Édouard Rostaing, M.S. (born France) (1942.02.24 – death 1946.05.18), Titular Bishop of Curium (1942.02.24 – 1946.05.18)
• Joseph-Paul Futy, M.S. (born France) (1947.02.13 – death 1955.03), Titular Bishop of Aspendus (1947.02.13 – 1956.08.12); previously Apostolic Prefect of Morondava (Madagascar) (1938 – 1947.02.13)

Suffragan Bishops of Antsirabe

• Claude Rolland, M.S. (born France) (1955.12.19 – death 1973.10.15)
• Jean-Maria Rakotondrasoa, M.S. (first native incumbent) (1974.02.28 – retired 1989.06.19), died 2002
• Philibert Randriambololona, Society of Jesus (S.J.) (1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17), succeeding as previous Coadjutor Bishop of Antsirabé (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Fianarantsoa (Madagascar) (1992.12.17 – retired 2002.10.01), died 2018
• Félix Ramananarivo, M.S. (1994.11.11 – retired 2009.11.13), died 2013
• Philippe Ranaivomanana (2009.11.13 – death 2022.09.06), previously Bishop of Ihosy (Madagascar) (1999.01.02 – 2009.11.14)

Coadjutor Bishop

• Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (1988-1989)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

• Désiré Tsarahazana, appointed Bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana in 2000; future Cardinal

See also

• List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Madagascar
• Roman Catholicism in Madagascar