Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana, Archbishop of Toamasina (Madagascar), was born in Amboangibe on 13 June 1954 and ordained a priest on 28 September 1986.

After ordination, he was vicar at Mananara-North, Rector of the preparatory seminary and professor at the minor seminary.

From 1993 to 1999 he was secretary coordinator of the priests of Antsiranana. He holds a licentiate in theology from the University of Antananarivo. He completed a specialization in theology at the Catholic University of Lyon, France.

Appointed Bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana on 30 October 2000 and consecrated on 18 February 2001, he was transferred to the then-Diocese of Toamasina on 24 November 2008 and elevated to Archbishop of the same See on 26 February 2010.

He was Vice President of the C.E.M. from 2006 to 2012 and president since 2012, confirmed in 2015.

On 14 July 2018 the Holy Father Francis appointed him President-delegate of the XV Ordinary General Assembly on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment (October 2018).

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 28 June 2018, and was assigned the titular church of San Gregorio Barbarigo alle Tre Fontane.

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for Evangelization, Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches