FORT-DAUPHIN, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - The evangelization of the territory of the present apostolic vicariate of F.-D. (Madagascar) began in 1648, when St. Vincenzo de' Paoli sent to that region several priests of his Congregation, followed by others.
The hostility of the indigenous chiefs and the harshness of the climate led to the missionaries who remained in 1672 being recalled to Paris. The mission was resumed only with the erection of the apostolic vicariate of southern Madagascar (16 Jan. 1806), with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Madagascar. The Lazarists found there a few hundred Catholics. On 20 May 1913 it received its present designation. The xenophobic movements of 1904 and 1947 caused damage to the missions.
The territory is very extensive: 165,520 sq. km., inhabited by an indigenous population estimated at 908,300 persons, constituting a mosaic of tribes. Catholics number (1948) 61,246; catechumens, 4,140; indigenous priests, 5; foreign priests, 27; brothers, 4; indigenous nuns, 28; foreign nuns, 38; catechists, 210; teachers, 25; major seminarians, 2. There is no lack of schools and charitable works, which provide valuable assistance to the apostolate.