WHEELING, West Virginia — May 2, 2026 Pope names former undocumented immigrant bishop in West Virginia Pope Leo XIV has appointed Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a former undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which covers the deeply conservative state of West Virginia.
A Controversial Appointment in Republican Territory
The appointment of Menjivar-Ayala marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church in the U.S., particularly in West Virginia, where 70% of voters supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The diocese, which spans the entire state, has traditionally leaned conservative, making the selection of a bishop who once entered the country illegally a potentially polarizing decision.
Menjivar-Ayala, now 56, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 1990 at the age of 20 by hiding in the trunk of a car near Tijuana. His journey from undocumented immigrant to bishop underscores a dramatic personal and spiritual trajectory. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., for three and a half years, becoming the first Central American bishop in the U.S.
At a press conference on Friday, Menjivar-Ayala and his predecessor, Bishop Mark Brennan, announced the transition. Menjivar-Ayala emphasized his commitment to his new role, stating in German: *"einzige Agenda bestehe darin, den Menschen zu dienen und gemeinsam im Glauben und in der Treue zu Christus zu wachsen"* ("my sole agenda is to serve the people and grow together in faith and loyalty to Christ").