Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Bishop of Farafangana Diocese in Madagascar, Appoints Successor

He was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Ambositra on 30 August 1992. He had his initial pastoral ministry in two districts of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa.

He obtained a Licentiate in Theology in Ambatoroka, Antananarivo and a degree in Theology from Lyon in France.

As a Priest, he also served as an educator, a teacher, and Prefect of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Vohitsoa, Fianarantsoa, and Rector of the same Seminary.

When installed, the Catholic Church leader who has been at the helm of Fenoarivo Atsinanana Diocese since he started his Episcopal Ministry in May 2009 will become the sixth Local Ordinary of Farafangana Diocese.

The Malagasy Diocese that is among the four Suffragan Dioceses of Fianarantsoa Ecclesiastical Province was erected in April 1957 as the Diocese of Fort-Dauphin before it was renamed Farafangana Diocese in June 1969.

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The Diocese that measures 23,176 Kilometers has a population of 194,600 Catholics representing 13.1 percent of the total population, according to the 2021 statistics.

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.