Pope Leo names former undocumented migrant Evelio Menjivar-Ayala bishop of West Virginia

newsMay 1, 2026232,489

Pope Leo named Evelio Menjivar-Ayala bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. Menjivar-Ayala, born in El Salvador, entered the United States undocumented in 1990 after being smuggled in a car trunk and later served as a parish priest and advocate for migrants. The appointment places a formerly undocumented migrant who has urged Catholics to speak out against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies at the head of West Virginia’s Catholic Church, underscoring the Vatican’s focus on immigration and inclusion.

America's Voice

@americasvoice.bsky.social

"Pope Leo on Friday named a formerly undocumented immigrant who was smuggled into the U.S. in a car trunk to be bishop of West Virginia" From fleeing violence to working construction and other jobs, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala embodies the dignity of immigrant labor and the power of perseverance.

87145d ago

JB POPP32

I’m an atheist and I love this! Thanks for sharing.

lesterryan.bsky.social30

Catholic Church and Pope Leo going all out to send a message to Americans.

Lexi "Pro-Democracy" 💙10

Checkmate by the Pope. 🔥💙

k8delgado.bsky.social9

I guess being an undocumented immigrant isn’t a sin…

Nimue Niem9

Oh boy, Donnie's going to be big mad. Quite the statement from Leo.

apricity7

Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala embodies the dignity of immigrant labor and the power of perseverance 🙏

Cowgal Fella 🇨🇦🇺🇦5

Love it, but methinks ICE are nuts enough to see a target. 😬

Graham Jones5

This is not going to go down well with the Vances. 😂

haveyouanywool.bsky.social4

Well, if that isn’t going to make Christo-fascists’ heads explode!

Skrappi🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇪🇸4

Every day Pope Leo rises up and does something, shows just and humanity, I beam with pride in my heart. Wait for the pearl cluthing and speaking in tongues, 3...2...1, from the so-called Christians 🤭

Tanoota3

SUCH a resound slap heard around the world.

Erin O'Brien3

I could not love this more.

Lorelei was here2

I'm an ex-Catholic ELCA Lutheran and I love this Pope.

fabster12345.bsky.social2

THATS MY POPE. THATS MY POPE. 😭😭😭😭 yall don’t understand as a Catholic that we have had to say bye to our churches as they’ve felt so very lost for so very long. Thank you for guiding us in the path of love and grace.

Alex Ip 葉清霖

@alexip718.com

INBOX: A truly remarkable life story for the only Roman Catholic bishop representing West Virginia, courtesy of @christopherjhale.bsky.social:

NEW: Pope Leo XIV has named Salvadoran immigrant Evelio Menijar-Ayala to be West Virginia’s lone Catholic bishop.

As a teenager, he made three attempts to enter the United States illegally.

He finally arrived in California in 1990, having been smuggled in the trunk of a car with his brother over the border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego.

Over the next several years, Menjivar-Ayala worked janitorial and construction jobs in California before deciding to become a priest.

It’s a remarkable choice in a state that is over 90% white and voted for President Trump by 42 points.

44845d ago

no.115

Da Pope from Chicago, legendary troller!!

expat123.bsky.social4

He knows poverty which defines West Virginia.

Jamie Gangel

@jamiegangel.bsky.social

Breaking - Pope Leo on Friday picks formerly undocumented immigrant who was smuggled into the United States in a car trunk to be bishop of West Virginia Gift Article wapo.st/3RcUTj8

34145d ago

Daniel Silva23

Friend of Gabriel Allon and Father Donati

The Washington Post

@washingtonpost.com

Pope Leo's pick to be bishop of West Virginia is a formerly undocumented immigrant who was smuggled into the U.S. in a car trunk. Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala has called for Catholics to speak out against President Trump’s treatment of immigrants. More on Menjivar-Ayala here.

21645d ago

Christopher Hale

@christopherjhale.bsky.social

NEW: Pope Leo XIV has named a former undocumented immigrant Evelio Menjivar-Ayala to be West Virginia’s lone Catholic bishop. After three attempts to enter the US illegally from war-ravaged El Salvador in the 1980s, Menjivar was smuggled in via a trunk as a young teenager.

9545d ago

Melinda here 4 the defeat of evil 🛑 this shit 💙🤬

@melin4u.bsky.social

Pope Leo just picked a former undocumented immigrant to be bishop of West Virginia. If that’s not sending a message I am Queen Elizabeth . Republicans and Trump are going to shit 💩 their pants. I an agnostic on a good day am growing very fond of this gentleman. Vance is going to shit a brick

9745d ago

Ann Laabs 🏳️‍🌈6

Vance could always excommunicate himself!

Gale Renee Walden3

Will they deport him? Honestly that wouldn't surprise me.

🐒RiderBabe52🍷3

I'm an atheist & love him.

Peter Moore3

That’s as punk rock as I’ve seen a Pope get🤘🏼

Liberty and Justice for All2

Pope 1 Trump Administration 0

Yonette Joseph

@sugarcane99.bsky.social

Pope Leo picks formerly undocumented immigrant -- Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, currently auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington -- to lead West Virginia Catholics. www.washingtonpost.com/religion/202...

6845d ago

Raw Story

@rawstory.com

Pope Leo XIV has named prelate Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a former undocumented immigrant, as bishop for deep red West Virginia — a move The Washington Post suggests is designed to send a direct message to Donald Trump about the church's stance on immigration.

6745d ago

PC Sherry🦋3

What’s the score now? Pope 10 Trump zip ??

Russ

@pappyparki.bsky.social

Score another "Trump can kiss my white Chicago ass" for Pope Leo. He is going to continue the education of the evil in America at every opportunity Pope Leo XIV appoints former undocumented immigrant as West Virginia bishop | Fox News share.google/p2lY1zlPbU9q...

5644d ago

noahs-arc0602.bsky.social5

Trump will screw with them he will take it as a challenge. The gop is useless to rein him in. Popcorn 😉

Becky D2

5 years on, the grief has settled, but at times like this I still wish with all my heart that I could sit across the kitchen table from my Jesuit-Catholic mom and dish about Pope Leo & the new WV bishop over coffee & Bailey's.

Dave in SoCal2

It’s good to see the church doing good

Tucker’sLap2

That Pope might convince me to join yet

Jan_Morgan

@janetmmorgan.bsky.social

I think Pope Leo has a wonderful sense of human as he picks a formerly undocumented immigrant to lead West Virginia Catholics - says The Washington Post. #pinks

5945d ago

C_Sriracha3

Love that he is bringing the Catholic Church into the 21st century with love and compassion 💓

US Political Politics News 💙🌈🦋The Fighting Liberal

@us-political-news.bsky.social

Pope Leo Appoints Bishops Who Warned America Is Regressing Under Trump Pope Leo XIV has named three new bishops who aren’t big fans of Donald Trump. ...

3745d ago

AFP News Agency

@en.afp.com

Pope Leo XIV named a former undocumented migrant as bishop of West Virginia, weeks after the pontiff's high-profile verbal confrontation with President Donald Trump. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 56, was born El Salvador and migrated to the US in 1990. u.afp.com/SahQ

2945d ago

Anonymous ⩜

@youranona.bsky.social

Pope Leo XIV crowns Salvadoran ex-fugitive, Tijuana bribe artist turned floor-scrubber cleric, bishop of rustbelt West Virginia. Trump's wall crumbles under crosier weight. #Immigration

2144d ago

Juan Escalante

@juanescalante.com

Pope Leo picks formerly undocumented immigrant to lead West Virginia Catholics  Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala was one of two clergy elevated who have vocally opposed Trump administration polices.

2044d ago

PortiaMcGonagal

@portiamcgonagal.bsky.social

Chicago Pope: "That's the Chicago way". 1/ "Pope Leo XIV has named prelate Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a former undocumented immigrant, as bishop for deep red West Virginia..." www.rawstory.com/trump-pope-2...

1745d ago

3 sources

washingtonpost.comPope Leo picks formerly undocumented immigrant to lead West Virginia Catholics ground.newsPope Leo appoints former migrant who entered US without legal status to lead West Virginia Catholics wapo.stPope Leo picks formerly undocumented immigrant to lead West Virginia Catholics

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Pope Leo names former undocumented migrant Evelio Menjivar-Ayala bishop of West Virginia

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