AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Coadjutor Bishop of Mahajanga appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on April 18, 2008, appointed Fr. Roger Víctor Rakotondrajao, of the clergy of the Diocese of Miarinarivo, Coadjutor Bishop of Mahajanga (Madagascar).
Fr. Roger Víctor Rakotondrajao was born March 26, 1960 and was ordained a priest July 29, 1990 for the Diocese of Miarinarivo.
He worked successfully in his diocese and completed studies in Canon Law in Paris. He is currently finishing licentiate studies in Civil Law.
The Diocese of Mahajanga, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Antsiranana, was established in 1955. It extends 71,900 km. sq. and has a population of 1,049,000 people: 200,000 Catholics, 20 parishes, 32 diocesan priests, 13 religious priests, 193 religious women, and 16 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 18/4/2008; righe 11, parole 120)