Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala to lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, placing him in charge of Catholic communities across West Virginia. The appointment was announced by the Vatican, and he is scheduled to be installed on July 2.
Menjivar-Ayala, 55, currently serves as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and will replace Mark Brennan, who has led the diocese since 2019.
His background has drawn attention.
Born in El Salvador, Menjivar-Ayala fled the country as a teenager during the civil war in the late 1980s. After multiple failed attempts to reach the United States, including being detained and deported, he eventually entered the country in 1990 without authorization. He later received humanitarian protection, obtained legal status through a religious worker visa, and became a U.S. citizen roughly two decades ago.
He was ordained as a priest and spent most of his ministry in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2023, he became the first bishop of Salvadoran origin in the United States when he was named an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Washington.
His work has focused largely on pastoral care, particularly in communities with large Latino populations. More than 40% of parishioners in his current archdiocese are Latino, shaping much of his ministry experience.
Menjivar-Ayala has also spoken publicly on immigration issues.
In a 2025 column, he criticized certain enforcement policies, describing them as violations of human rights and referring to what he called the “dark side of anti-immigrant animus.” He has drawn parallels between the struggles faced by migrants and religious themes, including the suffering of Christ.
In discussing enforcement actions, he said, “that could have been me,” referencing his own experience entering the United States and the risks faced by migrants.
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston serves an estimated 61,000 to 90,000 Catholics across more than 90 parishes. The region has a relatively small Spanish-speaking population compared to the areas where Menjivar-Ayala has previously served, Trending Politics reported.
The appointment has generated debate due to both his background and his public statements on immigration policy.
Supporters point to his personal story and pastoral experience, arguing that his background reflects broader global trends within the Catholic Church. Critics have questioned how his experience will translate to a state with different demographic and cultural characteristics.
The Vatican did not frame the decision in political terms, presenting it as a standard episcopal appointment based on pastoral needs and leadership considerations.
Menjivar-Ayala’s installation in July will mark a transition for the diocese as it moves from leadership rooted in the region to one shaped by international experience and a background tied to immigration and urban ministry.
