Pope Leo XIV Names Former Undocumented Migrant as West Virginia Bishop Amid Trump Feud

TL;DR: Pope Leo XIV appointed Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a former undocumented migrant from El Salvador, as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, weeks after clashing with Donald Trump over Iran and immigration. The move underscores the pope’s advocacy for migrant rights amid a deepening feud with the U.S. president.

Pope Leo XIV, who leads the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, has repeatedly criticized Trump’s immigration policies and his rhetoric on Iran. The pontiff called Trump’s threat to destroy Iran “unacceptable” and urged Americans to pressure lawmakers to pursue peace. Trump responded by calling the pope weak on crime and foreign policy, and said he does not want a pontiff who accepts Iran having nuclear weapons.

The Vatican announced on Friday that Menjivar-Ayala, 55, will lead the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, a poor, mountainous region in West Virginia. He currently serves as an auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., assisting the archbishop with administrative and pastoral duties. Born in El Salvador, he migrated to the United States in 1990 after fleeing conflict and poverty, and has spoken publicly about being detained in Mexico and paying a bribe to cross the border at Tijuana.

Menjivar-Ayala’s appointment makes him the first former undocumented immigrant to head a U.S. diocese in recent memory. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, was ordained a priest in 2004, and became a bishop in 2023. His background reflects the pope’s broader message that migrants deserve humane treatment, a stance the pope has described as “extremely disrespectful” when violated by U.S. enforcement.

Pope Leo XIV’s condemnation of Trump’s Iran threat came last month, framing the president’s rhetoric as a danger to regional stability. He urged U.S. citizens to demand that Congress work for peace rather than escalation. Trump’s rebuttal on social media labeled the pope “WEAK on Crime” and rejected any papal support for Iran’s nuclear weapons.

Trump’s campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented migrants has drawn criticism from several U.S. Catholic leaders, including Archbishop Paul Coakley and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, who warned of a climate of fear and urged lawmakers to cut funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The bishopric appointment signals the Vatican’s willingness to elevate individuals with direct migrant experience to prominent church roles, reinforcing its moral authority on immigration. It also provides a symbolic counterpoint to Trump’s hardline stance, potentially influencing Catholic voters in swing states like West Virginia.

Observers will watch whether Menjivar-Ayala’s leadership brings new outreach to underserved communities in the diocese and whether the pope’s criticism of Trump translates into concrete policy advocacy ahead of the 2024 elections.