Archbishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison

Jean de Dieu Raoelison was born on July 31, 1963, in Arivonimamo, in the Archdiocese of Antananarivo. He attended primary school at a private Catholic institution before entering the Minor Seminary of Ambohipo (1981–1986). After a year of practical training at the Christian Family Movement center and a second year in the Ambohitsoabe missionary district (1987–1988), he studied philosophy at the Regional Major Seminary of Antsirabe (1988–1991) and theology at the Major Seminary of Ambatoroka in Antananarivo (1993–1996), following a two-year period of pastoral internship (1991–1993). He completed his theological studies at Ambatoroka, obtaining a Licentiate degree from the Catholic Institute of Madagascar (I.C.M.) in 1998. He was ordained a priest on September 7, 1996. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1996–1998: Parochial Vicar at Ilanivato parish; 1998–2000: Parish Priest of the Fenoarivo district; 2000–2003: Formator at the Regional Major Seminary of Philosophy in Antsirabe; 2003–2004: *Fidei Donum* priest in the parish of Lamoli-Urbino (Italy); 2004–2008: Doctoral studies in Theology at the Faculty of Theology in Lugano (Switzerland); since 2009: Professor of Theology at the Major Seminary of Theology in Faliarivo and Permanent Secretary of the Malagasy Episcopal Conference.