Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, 55, as the new bishop of West Virginia's Wheeling-Charleston diocese. Menjivar-Ayala previously entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador as a teenager.

The Vatican announced that the pope approved the resignation of Bishop Mark E. Brennan and selected Menjivar-Ayala, currently serving in Washington, to replace him. According to reports, Menjivar-Ayala fled El Salvador and entered the United States hidden in the trunk of a car.

The appointment comes amid ongoing national debates over immigration policy. Pope Leo XIV has previously criticized strict immigration enforcement measures during the Trump administration.

Menjivar-Ayala's selection marks a notable appointment for the Catholic Church in West Virginia, a state that has been politically conservative on immigration issues. The bishop will oversee Catholic communities across the state in his new role.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston serves Catholic parishes throughout West Virginia. Details about the transition timeline and Menjivar-Ayala's specific plans for the diocese have not been announced.