Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a Salvadoran-born auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., as the new leader of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which serves all of West Virginia. The Vatican announced the move Friday, accepting the resignation of Bishop Mark E. Brennan, who has led the diocese since 2019 at age 79.

Menjivar-Ayala, 55, was born in Chalatenango, El Salvador, on August 14, 1970. He fled the country's civil war as a teenager in the late 1980s. After two failed attempts to reach the United States, including one where he was deported and another abandoned by a guide, he crossed the border illegally in 1990, hidden in the trunk of a car. He endured a grueling desert trek and brief imprisonment in Mexico before arriving with just a backpack and what he called "dreams and illusions."

Upon arrival, he quickly obtained humanitarian protection, later a religious worker visa and green card, and became a U.S. citizen about two decades ago. He learned English, earned a GED, and worked janitorial and construction jobs while discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Ordained in 2004, he served in several Washington-area parishes, including St. Mary's in Landover Hills. Pope Francis named him an auxiliary bishop in 2023, making him the first Salvadoran-born bishop in the United States.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston covers West Virginia's 1.77 million residents across 92 parishes and 61,000 Catholics. The state is 92.6 percent white and 2.4 percent Latino, one of the least diverse in the nation, and among the poorest, with residents facing significant hardship. West Virginia voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump in the last election by 42 percentage points, making it a stronghold for his policies.

Menjivar-Ayala has been vocal about immigration, criticizing the Trump administration's enforcement as a "shock and awe" campaign of "inhumane treatment." He has worked closely with immigrant communities in the Washington archdiocese, where over 40 percent of parishioners are Latino, and said of recent raids, "that could have been me." Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope elected in May 2025, has also condemned U.S. treatment of migrants as "extremely disrespectful" and clashed publicly with the administration.

At a news conference Friday, Menjivar-Ayala expressed humility in accepting the role, saying, "I have much to learn, but my heart is ready and wide-open." He pledged to listen to the poor, workers, and immigrants, quoting Matthew 25: "the way we treat the least is the way we treat Jesus." He thanked the "first American pope" and told young people, "You are not only the future of the church, but you are the present." His installation is set for July 2.

The appointment drew mixed reactions. A diocese spokesman called it a blessing, emphasizing service over politics. Conservatives highlighted the timing amid Vatican-Trump tensions, with some viewing it as provocative in a red state. Bishop Brennan expressed confidence that Menjivar-Ayala would serve all in the diocese.