Pope Leo places former illegal immigrant in charge of red state diocese
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a former illegal immigrant from El Salvador, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia. The appointment has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the U.S. government over immigration policies. The diocese defended the decision, emphasizing the bishop's pastoral qualifications and rejecting claims of political motivation.
- ▪Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala was appointed to lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which covers all of West Virginia.
- ▪Menjivar-Ayala entered the United States as a teenager, smuggled in a car trunk after fleeing violence in El Salvador.
- ▪He has previously criticized strict immigration enforcement measures as a human rights concern.
- ▪The diocese stated the appointment was not intended as a political statement against the U.S. government or President Trump.
- ▪Christopher Hale, a former DNC delegate, called the appointment a remarkable choice for a heavily Republican and predominantly White state.
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Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo places former illegal immigrant in charge of red state diocese The Roman Catholic Church “worries about the Lamb, not the Elephant or the Donkey," the Wheeling diocese said. By Charles Creitz Fox News Published May 1, 2026 5:22pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Trump responds to Pope Leo's comments about 'those who manipulate religion' President Donald Trump says Iran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon' as he takes questions live from the White House.
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