Pope appoints former undocumented immigrant as bishop of West Virginia
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a former undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, as the new bishop of West Virginia. Menjivar-Ayala, who previously served as an auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., fled violence in his home country and entered the U.S. in 1990 after multiple failed attempts. The appointment highlights the Pope's ongoing criticism of harsh U.S. immigration policies and underscores the church's outreach to immigrants and marginalized communities.
- ▪Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant in 1990 after two failed attempts and a dangerous desert crossing.
- ▪He became the first Salvadorian-born bishop in the U.S. in 2023 and has publicly opposed Donald Trump's immigration policies.
- ▪Pope Leo XIV, known for criticizing the Trump administration's treatment of migrants, appointed Menjivar-Ayala after accepting the resignation of Bishop Mark E Brennan.
- ▪Menjivar-Ayala worked janitorial and construction jobs while learning English and earning a GED before entering the priesthood.
- ▪He emphasized the importance of youth, immigrants, and the poor in the church during his public remarks on the appointment.
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Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala arrived in the US as an undocumented immigrant in 1990, after two previous failed attempts. Photograph: Sarah L Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenBishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala arrived in the US as an undocumented immigrant in 1990, after two previous failed attempts. Photograph: Sarah L Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesWest VirginiaPope appoints former undocumented immigrant as bishop of West VirginiaLeo, who has criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policy, selected Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as state’s new bishop Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Marina DunbarFri 1 May 2026 15.15 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 15.22 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GooglePope Leo XIV has…
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