Pope Leo XIV has appointed Milan Lach, SJ, as the new eparchial bishop of Bratislava, succeeding Bishop Peter Rusnák, who has led the diocese since its establishment in 2008. Bishop Rusnák celebrated his 75th birthday on September 6 of last year, at which point he was required to submit his resignation to the Pope, a traditional procedure for bishops after reaching this canonical age.

The announcement of Milan Lach's appointment was made public at a midday meeting on Friday at the Cathedral of the Elevation of the Holy Cross in Bratislava, where Bishop Rusnák invited clergy and parishioners for a priestly gathering and a communal prayer. Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia, Nicola Girasoli, reported the news of the new appointment, indicating the importance and formal nature of the ceremony.

In the interim period before his formal installation, Milan Lach will serve as the administrator of the Bratislava eparchy. His formal enthronement is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the same cathedral, underlining the continuity of leadership within the Greek Catholic Church and the community's governance in Slovakia amid developments in ecclesiastical hierarchies.