Charleston, West Virginia — A new Catholic bishop with a personal immigration story and a history of advocacy has been appointed to lead West Virginia’s diocese, signaling a notable shift in leadership priorities.
Pope Leo XIV selected Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, an El Salvador-born cleric who fled civil war as a teenager and later became a U.S. citizen. He will oversee the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which serves about 61,000 Catholics across a largely rural and predominantly white state.
Menjivar-Ayala has previously spoken out against aggressive immigration enforcement policies, saying such actions can deeply affect immigrant communities. Still, in his first remarks following the appointment, he emphasized unity, saying he intends to listen to “the poor, the workers, and the immigrants,” while serving all residents of the state.
Church leaders highlighted his experience working with diverse communities in Washington, D.C., where a large share of parishioners are Latino. His appointment comes as the Catholic Church continues to advocate for more humane immigration policies while recognizing national border authority.
He replaces Bishop Mark Brennan, who led the diocese through a period of recovery following prior leadership controversies. The new bishop is scheduled to be installed on July 2.
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