Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of 61-year-old Bishop in Madagascar

Miarinarivo, 12 June, 2023 / 8:54 PM

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Jean Claude Randrianarisoa of Madagascar’s Miarinarivo Diocese.

The news of the acceptance of the resignation of the 61-year-old Catholic Church leader who has been at the helm  of the Malagasy Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in May 2007 was made public on Monday, June 12, and published by the Holy See Press Office.

In the latest administrative changes in Miarinarivo Diocese, the Holy Father also appointed Bishop Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina of Madagascar’s Morondava as the Apostolic Administrator of the Malagasy Episcopal See.

Catholic Bishops are expected to submit their respective letters of retirement at the age of 75. Compelling reasons such as “ill-health or other grave problems” justify the offering of such a letter of resignation.

The reasons for the resignation of Bishop Randrianarisoa who succeeded Bishop Raymond Razakarinvony have not been made public. 

Ordained a Priest for the Archdiocese of Antananarivo in September 1991, Bishop Randrianarisoa holds a Licentiate in Theology and Canon Law from the Catholic Institute of Madagascar (I.C.M) and the Pontifical Urbaniana University, respectively. 

Bishop Raharilamboniaina who is to temporarily govern the Diocese of Miarinarivo was ordained a Priest in July 1997.

The member of the Order of Discalced Carmelites  (OCD) started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2010 as Bishop of Morondava Diocese.

The Diocese of Miarinarivo, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Antananarivo, was created in 1955. The 18,000 square-kilometer Diocese has a population of 308,825 Catholics according to 2021 statistics.