Pope Leo names former illegal immigrant who entered the US hidden in a trunk as bishop

Pope Leo XIV minimizes disagreement with Trump, saying it is ‘not in my interest’ to debate Pope Leo The announcement was made this Friday (1st) by the Vatican. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, aged 56, was born in El Salvador and came to the USA in 1990, fleeing an armed conflict. According to The Washington Post, he entered the country in hiding and became an American citizen in 2006. Menjivar was appointed bishop of the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, in West Virginia. The religious man has stood out for criticizing the treatment given to immigrants by the Trump administration. In an article published last year in the National Catholic Reporter, he condemned immigration repression and called for support for immigrants and refugees. “To those who are silent or think that this does not affect them, to those who are not bothered by it — or worse, who applaud —, especially those who are Catholic, I ask: do you not see the suffering of your fellow human beings?” he wrote. “Do you not realize the pain, the misery, and the very real fear and anxiety that these unjust government operations and policies are causing? Are your consciences not troubled? How can you remain silent?” The pope has also been critical of Trump’s policies. On a recent trip to Africa, he advocated for more humane treatment of immigrants and refugees, saying they should be treated with dignity. Menjivar studied philosophy at St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami and studied at the North American College in Rome, where he earned a master’s degree in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 2002. He also studied at the Pontifical Scalabrinian Institute of Pastoral Theology for Human Mobility before being ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Washington on May 29, 2004. He currently participates in of councils and Church bodies, in addition to working on charitable and assistance initiatives. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala speaks at a panel on immigration at Georgetown University in September 2025 AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao Disagreements between Pope Leo XIV and Trump Menjivar’s appointment comes amid exchanges of criticism between Trump and Leo XIV. The pope recently stated that countries have the right to control their borders, but defended that richer nations contribute to the development of immigrants’ countries of origin, reducing the need for forced displacement. The pontiff also spoke out about other conflicts, called for a ceasefire in the Middle East and expressed solidarity with affected populations, including Lebanon. The statements provoked reactions from Trump, who publicly criticized the pope. The president stated that the pontiff is weak and that his stance harms the Catholic Church. In a social media post in April, Trump said he does not want “a pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” Despite the statements, there is no record that the pope has advocated for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Trump also published on social media an image generated by artificial intelligence in which he appears in a white robe, blessing a sick man, who looks like Jesus. The scene includes the US flag, the Statue of Liberty and military fighter jets. Post by Donald Trump on Sunday, April 12th Reproduction/Truth Social VIDEOS: most watched on g1

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