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Auxiliary Bishop in Madagascar Appointed Local Ordinary for Antsirabé Diocese

Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina appointed Local Ordinary of Antsirabé Diocese in Madagascar on 10 July 2023. Credit: Antananarivo Archdiocese

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina, the Auxiliary Bishop of Antananarivo Archdiocese in Madagascar as the Local Ordinary of Antsirabé Diocese in the second-largest island country.

The appointment of Bishop Pascal, who is one of the delegates to represent Africa in the October 4-29 Synod on Synodality in Rome was made public by the Holy See Press Office on Monday, July 10. 

Antsirabé Diocese has been vacant since September 2022 following the death of Bishop Philippe Ranaivomanana who had been at the helm of the Diocese since November 2009.

Born in March 1969 in the Catholic Diocese of Majunga, the newly appointed Bishop for Antsirabé Diocese was ordained a Priest for Antananarivo Archdiocese in August 2009.

In July 2019, he was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop for Antananarivo Archdiocese and assigned the and Titular See of Zallata Diocese. He was Consecrated Bishop in August 2019.  

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When installed, Bishop Pascal will be the ninth Local Ordinary of the Malagasy Diocese, which measures 16,000 square kilometers with 1,011,774 Catholics representing 45.4 percent of the total population, according to 2020 statistics.

The Catholic Diocese that is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Antananarivo was erected in May 1913 as Vicariate Apostolic of Central Madagascar before being elevated to a Diocese in September 1955.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.