Roman Catholic Cardinal. Ambohimalaza born Armand Gaétan Razafindratandra received his elementary education in Faravohitra and Andohalo before entering seminary, first in Ambohipo and successively in Ambatoroka. Furthering his studies at the Institut Catholique of Paris, he was ordained priest on July 27, 1954 and upon concluding his studies was appointed to serve as spiritual director of various teaching faculties before being named rector of the Minor Seminary of Faliarivo. Elected bishop of the diocese of Mahajanga by Pope Paul VI, he received his episcopal consecration on July 2, 1978 from Cardinal Victor Razafimahatratra SJ. Following the latter's demise, he was promoted to the metropolitan see of Antananarivo on February 3, 1994, with Pope John Paul II creating him cardinal priest with the title of Ss. Silvestro e Martino ai Monti in the consistory of November 26 that year. Actively collaborating with the Malagasy Council of Christian Churches, he founded the "Zanakavavin'ny Eglizin'i Mahajanga" and played a crucial role in the accession to the presidency of Marc Ravalomanana to whom he was particularly close. President of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar between 1997 and 2002, he retired from the pastoral government of his see on December 7, 2005. The Cardinal passed away at Androva hospital, having fainted and suffered a fall while walking near a religious center in Mahajanga where he used to swim at a nearby beach, shortly after suffering from a bout of influenza a while before. He was buried beside his predecessors following a befitting salute to a much esteemed churchman who went everywhere on foot, visiting and meeting his people up to his last days, with national mourning being called the government on the day of the final tribute.