Pope Leo places former illegal immigrant in charge of red state diocese

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A large Roman Catholic diocese pushed back on criticism Friday after Pope Leo XIV appointed a former illegal immigrant as bishop amid heightened tensions between the Vatican and Washington over refugees and ICE enforcement.Leo nominated Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which covers all of West Virginia. Menjivar-Ayala originally arrived in San Ysidro, California, smuggled in a car trunk after making several prior attempts as a teenager to flee guerrilla-war-torn El Salvador.The bishop has also been critical of the increased immigration enforcement measures, calling them a human rights concern and responding directly to critiques of the Church from fellow Catholics in the Trump administration like border czar Thomas Homan.After commentary piled up on social media Friday, Wheeling diocesan spokesman Tim Bishop told Fox News Digital that Menjivar-Ayala’s appointment is a blessing to West Virginians, praising the clergyman’s pastoral work and service.POPE LEO SAYS COUNTRIES HAVE RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR BORDERS, ADVOCATES FOR HUMANE TREATMENT OF MIGRANTS Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala walks at the front of the procession of the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees in Washington. (Sarah Voisin/Getty Images)"Bishop Evelio came [to America] some time ago looking