Fianarantsoa (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Fulgence Rabemahafaly, Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 11 December 1958
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Madagascar
Square Kilometers: 29,400 (11,355 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archeveche, B.P. 1440, Ecar Ambozontany, Fianarantsoa 301, Madagascar
Telephone: (020)75.500.27; (034)72.725.79

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa
- Latin Name: Fianarantsoaensis
- Erected: 10 May 1913
- Vicariate
- Country: Madagascar
- Square Kilometers: 68,000 (26,265 Square Miles)
Diocese of Fianarantsoa
- Latin Name: Fianarantsoaensis
- Elevated: 14 September 1955
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tananarive
- Country: Madagascar

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles Givelet, S.J. † (16 May 1913 Appointed - 9 Dec 1935 Died)
Xavier Ferdinand J. Thoyer, S.J. † (23 Dec 1936 Appointed - 2 Apr 1962 Retired)
Gilbert Ramanantoanina, S.J. † (2 Apr 1962 Appointed - 25 Jan 1991 Died)
Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. † (17 Dec 1992 Appointed - 1 Oct 2002 Retired)
Fulgence Rabemahafaly (1 Oct 2002 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa
10 May 1913	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Madagascar {Madagascar Centrale} (Southern region)	Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa (erected)
18 June 1935	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa (Nosivarilca and Marolambo) Vicariate Apostolic of Tananarive (Vatomandry and Mahanoro)	Prefecture Apostolic of Vatomandry (erected)
8 January 1938	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa (part of Bakalavia) Vicariate Apostolic of Majunga (part of Maintirano and Morafenobe) Vicariate Apostolic of Tananarive (part of Maintirano and Morafenobe)	Prefecture Apostolic of Morondava (erected)
8 January 1938	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa Vicariate Apostolic of Majunga Vicariate Apostolic of Tananarive	Vicariate Apostolic of Antsirabé (erected)
Diocese of Fianarantsoa
14 September 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa	Diocese of Fianarantsoa
Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
11 December 1958	Elevated	Diocese of Fianarantsoa	Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
9 April 1968	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa (Manajary and Ifanadiana) Diocese of Tamatave (Nosy-Varika)	Diocese of Mananjary (erected)
3 June 1999	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa (Ambositra, Fandriana, and Ambotofinandrahana)	Diocese of Ambositra (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa

1950 187,500 650,000 28.8% 2 81 83 2,259 81 105 1 ap1951

Diocese of Fianarantsoa

Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa

1970 358,060 792,000 45.2% 11 118 129 2,775 198 234 8 ap1971

1980 455,000 975,000 46.7% 26 103 129 3,527 168 265 8 ap1981

1990 578,162 1,323,762 43.7% 30 89 119 4,858 167 333 7 ap1991

1999 426,858 920,981 46.3% 54 223 277 1,541 404 296 9 ap2000

2000 436,726 974,106 44.8% 49 76 125 3,493 249 352 8 ap2001

2001 418,749 995,760 42.1% 48 86 134 3,124 291 335 7 ap2002

2002 432,474 1,039,760 41.6% 42 83 125 3,459 261 327 7 ap2003

2003 452,486 1,119,860 40.4% 46 82 128 3,535 250 337 8 ap2004

2004 467,476 1,153,750 40.5% 43 78 121 3,863 253 341 9 ap2005

2006 576,670 1,201,000 48.0% 44 84 128 4,505 248 343 9 ap2007

2013 821,315 1,435,000 57.2% 61 81 142 5,783 212 315 42 ap2014

2016 891,947 1,549,477 57.6% 72 75 147 6,067 214 492 45 ap2017

2019 972,615 1,680,240 57.9% 74 96 170 5,721 285 377 46 ap2020

2021 1,043,012 2,291,560 45.5% 88 95 183 5,699 285 373 47 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa
1950	187,500	650,000	28.8%	2	81	83	2,259	81	105	1	ap1951
Diocese of Fianarantsoa
Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
1970	358,060	792,000	45.2%	11	118	129	2,775	198	234	8	ap1971
1980	455,000	975,000	46.7%	26	103	129	3,527	168	265	8	ap1981
1990	578,162	1,323,762	43.7%	30	89	119	4,858	167	333	7	ap1991
1999	426,858	920,981	46.3%	54	223	277	1,541	404	296	9	ap2000
2000	436,726	974,106	44.8%	49	76	125	3,493	249	352	8	ap2001
2001	418,749	995,760	42.1%	48	86	134	3,124	291	335	7	ap2002
2002	432,474	1,039,760	41.6%	42	83	125	3,459	261	327	7	ap2003
2003	452,486	1,119,860	40.4%	46	82	128	3,535	250	337	8	ap2004
2004	467,476	1,153,750	40.5%	43	78	121	3,863	253	341	9	ap2005
2006	576,670	1,201,000	48.0%	44	84	128	4,505	248	343	9	ap2007
2013	821,315	1,435,000	57.2%	61	81	142	5,783	212	315	42	ap2014
2016	891,947	1,549,477	57.6%	72	75	147	6,067	214	492	45	ap2017
2019	972,615	1,680,240	57.9%	74	96	170	5,721	285	377	46	ap2020
2021	1,043,012	2,291,560	45.5%	88	95	183	5,699	285	373	47	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Charles Givelet, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 May 1913 to 9 Dec 1935)
Gilbert Ramanantoanina, S.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Jan 1960; Archbishop: 2 Apr 1962 to 25 Jan 1991)
Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. † (Archbishop: 17 Dec 1992 to 1 Oct 2002)
Xavier Ferdinand J. Thoyer, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Dec 1936; Bishop: 14 Sep 1955; Archbishop: 11 Dec 1958 to 2 Apr 1962)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Fianarantsoa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 235, and Page 236
Diocese of Fianarantsoa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 48, Page 113, to Page 119

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Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa

Archidioecesis Fianarantsoaensis