Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Toliara

Madagascar

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Toliara / Toliaran(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Morombe, Morondava, Tôlagnaro

Neighbouring Dioceses: Morombe (↑), Ihosy (↗), Tôlagnaro (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1957.04.08: Established as Diocese of Tuléar / Tulearen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Fort-Dauphin and became suffragan of Tananarive)
1958.12.11: Became suffragan of Fianarantsoa
1989.10.28: Renamed as Diocese of Toliara / Toliaran(us) (Latin)
2003.11.14: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toliara / Toliaran(us) (Latin) (with suffragan see Morombe)
2003.12.03: Gained suffragan sees Morondava and Tôlagnaro

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.07.22 – ...):

Archbishop Gustavo Bombín Espino, O.SS.T. (65)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Toliara (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gustavo Bombín Espino, O.SS.T. (65)
(2023.07.22 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Toliara (Madagascar)

Fiainana sy fanantenana ary fiadnana

Born:	1960.09.24 (San Llorente, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1987.03.21
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.02.08

Bishop of Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) (2003.10.04 – 2017.02.08)

Bishop of Maintirano (Madagascar) (2017.02.08 – 2023.07.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Mahajanga (Madagascar) (2018.11.13 – 2022.11.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Toliara (Madagascar) (2023.07.22 – ...)

Archbishop Fulgence Rabeony, S.J. (80)
(2003.11.14 – 2023.07.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Toliara (Madagascar)

Born:	1945.11.21 (Isoraka, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	1976.08.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.11.18

Bishop of Toliara (Madagascar) (1990.04.02 – 2003.11.14)

President of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (2002 – 2006)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Toliara (Madagascar) (2003.11.14 – 2023.07.22)

Bishops of Toliara (Roman Rite)

Bishop Fulgence Rabeony, S.J. (80) (later Archbishop)
(1990.04.02 – 2003.11.14)

(see above)

Bishops of Tuléar (Roman Rite)

Bishop René Joseph Rakotondrabé
(1974.02.28 – 1989.05.15)

Born:	1932.09.12 (Fandriana, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	1960.04.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.10.01
Died:	2012.07.09 († 79)

Titular Bishop of Umbriatico (1972.03.25 – 1974.02.28)

Auxiliary Bishop of Tuléar (Madagascar) (1972.03.25 – 1974.02.28)

Bishop of Tuléar (Madagascar) (1974.02.28 – 1989.05.15)

Bishop of Tamatave (Madagascar) (1989.05.15 – 1990.01.31)

Bishop of Toamasina (Madagascar) (1990.01.31 – 2008.11.24)

Bishop Michel-Henri Canonne, A.A.
(1959.04.25 – 1974.02.28)

Born:	1911.12.27 (Le Câteau-Cambrésis, France)
Ordained Priest:	1943.06.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.10.25
Died:	1991.04.30 (Montfermeil, France † 79)

Bishop of Tuléar (Madagascar) (1959.04.25 – 1974.02.28)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop René Joseph Rakotondrabé (1972.03.25 – 1974.02.28)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint-Vincent de Paul, Toliara, Toliara

Morombe (↑), Ihosy (↗), Tôlagnaro (↘)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 43,570 km²

Population: 194,000 Catholics (14.3% of 1,359,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 28 parishes, 4 missions

Personnel: 77 priests (39 diocesan, 38 religious), 407 religious (69 brothers, 338 sisters), 19 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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