Pope’s condolences for death of Cardinal Razafindratandra of Masdagascar

(Jan.12,2010): Cardinal Armand Razafindratandra of Antananarivo, Madagascar, died Jan. 9 at the age of 84. In a telegram offering his condolences, Pope Benedict XVI praised the cardinal for his passionate dedication as a pastor, his work helping his fellow citizens and for giving the best of himself to proclaim Christ. He was born in 1925 to a large Christian family in Ambohimalaza, where his grandfather was governor. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954, and was sent to the Catholic Institute in Paris to study pastoral catechesis and social studies. Returning to Madagascar, he was appointed director of catechesis for the Archdiocese of Antananarivo. He directed the National Center for Catechetical Formation for 10 years, served as rector of the minor seminary and as director of the major seminary. Appointed bishop of Mahajanga in 1978, he began his pastoral visits to the parishes spread over some 64,000 square miles.
Cardinal Razafindratandra was involved in starting the Ecumenical Commission of Theology, which drafted the statutes of the national Council of Christian Churches, a movement that has played an important role in the democratic development of the nation since 1989. Catholic and other Christians make up about 41 percent of the population of the Indian Ocean island-state. The cardinal was appointed archbishop of Antananarivo in February 1994 and made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II several months later. His death leaves the College of Cardinals with 182 members, 112 of whom are under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave.