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May 1, 2026
Pope Appoints Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston Amid Immigration Debate
- Pope Leo XIV appointed Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as the new bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, covering all of West Virginia.
- Menjivar-Ayala, who entered the U.S. illegally as a teenager, has been vocal against harsh immigration enforcement and advocates for the rights of migrants.
- The appointment has sparked discussions about the Church's stance on immigration amid criticism from some U.S. officials, including those in the Trump administration.
2 Sources
- Catholic priest who criticized Trump immigration crackdown named West Virginia bishopMay 1, 2026 at 8:38 PM · ABC News
- Pope Leo places former illegal immigrant in charge of red state dioceseMay 1, 2026 at 9:22 PM · Fox News