On Wednesday, October 1, the Vatican officially announced the appointment of Father Ihor Rantsia, aged 47, as the new ruling bishop of the Paris Eparchy of Saint Volodymyr the Great. The decision was made by Pope Leo XIV. From now on, Father Ihor will lead the Ukrainian Greek Catholic faithful residing in France, Switzerland, and the Benelux countries — Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Bishop-designate Ihor Rantsia hails from the village of Opilske, which is part of the Sokal community in the Sheptytskyi district. He holds a doctorate in geography and has previously worked as a university lecturer. His theological education includes studies at the Lviv Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in theology from the Ukrainian Catholic University. He later completed doctoral studies in ecumenical theology.
Ihor Rantsia was ordained a priest in 2015. Since then, he has served in various parishes and has held key administrative positions within the structure of the Paris Eparchy of the UGCC, demonstrating strong leadership and a commitment to pastoral service.
His appointment marks a significant development in the spiritual leadership of the Ukrainian diaspora in Western Europe.