By Paschal Norbert
ANTANANARIVO, JUNE 27, 2025 (CISA) – Pope Leo has appointed Fr Mamiarisoa Modeste Randrianifahanana as the new auxiliary bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antananarivo, Madagascar. Until now serving as the vicar general, the 58-year-old priest will now support Archbishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison, appointed in 2023, in overseeing the pastoral and administrative life of the archdiocese. He will also hold the titular see of Iucundiana.
The news of his appointment was made public by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Born on June 18, 1967, in Fiakarana, Fr Randrianifahanana entered priestly formation at the Major Seminary of Antsirabe for philosophy and continued his theological studies at the Major Seminary of Ambatoroka in Antananarivo. He was ordained a priest on September 6, 1997, beginning a ministry marked by commitment to youth, formation, and mission.
From 1997 to 2003, he served as chaplain of the Youth Eucharistic Movement and head of liturgy while also acting as rector of the preparatory seminary in Antananarivo. For over a decade (2003–2017), he ministered as a fidei donum priest in La Réunion, returning to Madagascar to serve as parish priest of the missionary district of Ambatolampy from 2017 to 2020. He then became an educator at the Major Seminary in Antsirabe before being appointed vicar general in 2023.
His appointment comes at a crucial time for the Archdiocese of Antananarivo, which, as of 2022, serves over 2.1 million Catholics through the ministry of 416 priests, both diocesan and religious, across 89 parishes. The archdiocese, which encompasses the capital and surrounding areas, is one of the most significant ecclesiastical territories in Madagascar.
The archdiocese’s roots trace back to 1841 when it was established as the Prefecture Apostolic of Bourbon, formed from the Diocese of Saint-Denis-de-La Réunion. From its earliest days, it played a pivotal role in evangelizing the island, though its mission was met with severe persecution. This dark chapter, known in Malagasy as ny tany maizina (“the time when the land was dark”), saw the execution of an estimated 150,000 Malagasy Christians who converted to the faith amid state opposition.
In 1848, the territory was elevated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Madagascar and led by a titular bishop. That same year, its jurisdiction was reduced with the creation of the Apostolic Prefecture of Mayotte, Nossi-Bé, and the Comoros. As the Church in Madagascar continued to grow, further subdivisions followed. In 1896, it ceded territory to form the Apostolic Vicariates of Northern and Southern Madagascar. Subsequently, it was renamed the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar.
In 1913, reflecting its geographic seat, the vicariate was renamed again as the Apostolic Vicariate of Tananarive. Over the following decades, it continued to lose territory to accommodate growing local Churches, including the creation of the Mission sui juris of Miarinarivo in 1933, the Apostolic Prefecture of Vatomandry in 1935, and the Apostolic Prefecture of Morondava in 1938.
On September 14, 1955, the vicariate was elevated to the status of a Metropolitan Archdiocese, bearing the Latin name Archidioecesis Tananarivensis. Four years later, in 1959, it lost further territory to create the Diocese of Ambatondrazaka. In 1989, aligning with Madagascar’s post-independence national identity, the archdiocese and its capital were renamed Antananarivo.
Today, the Archdiocese of Antananarivo remains a vibrant hub of Catholic life in Madagascar, balancing a rich historical legacy with the demands of modern pastoral care. With the appointment of Bishop-elect Randrianifahanana as auxiliary bishop, the archdiocese strengthens its leadership as it continues its mission of evangelization, education, and service to its growing faithful.
