Rumen Stanev

Rumen Ivanov Stanev (; born 19 August 1973) is a Bulgarian Roman Catholic prelate serving as Bishop of Sofia and Plovdiv since 2026. He previously served as auxiliary bishop of the diocese from 2020 until 2026 and has served as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Nicopolis since April 2026.

Early life and education

Stanev was born on 19 August 1973 in Kaloyanovo, Plovdiv Province, Bulgaria. After completing his secondary education, he entered the seminary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv. He continued his ecclesiastical studies at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, where he studied philosophy and theology and earned a bachelor's degree in theology.

Priestly ministry Stanev was ordained to the priesthood on 11 September 1999 by Bishop Georgi Yovchev for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv.

Following his ordination, he served as parochial vicar in the parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary in General Nikolaevo-Rakovski. In 2005 he became parish priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in the Sekirovo district of Rakovski.

He also served as a member of the diocesan presbyteral council, the college of consultors, and several diocesan commissions.

He received episcopal consecration on 17 January 2021 from Bishop Georgi Yovchev, with Bishop Christo Proykov and Bishop Kiro Stojanov serving as co-consecrators. He took canonical possession of the diocese on 7 February 2026 during a solemn Mass at the Cathedral of St. Louis in Plovdiv.

On 9 April 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Stanev apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Nicopolis.