In an unusual arrangement, the head of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church (CNEWA profile) assumed governance of a second eparchy.
As head of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Claudiu-Lucian Pop is the ex officio head of the Archeparchy of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia. With the consent of the church’s Synod of Bishops, and after consultation with the Holy See, Archbishop Pop will also lead the Eparchy of Cluj-Gherla.
The Eparchy of Cluj-Gherla is not unknown to the Major Archbishop. The prelate, now 54, was bishop of Cluj-Gherla from 2021 until his 2025 election as head of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church.
The Romanian Greek Catholic Church has seven eparchies: six in Romania and one in the United States.