Pope Leo’s New Appointments
Recently, there have been significant appointments in the Catholic Church, particularly in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Father Robert Boxey III has been elected as the new auxiliary bishop, while Bishop Evelio Menjivar has been named the bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, covering the entire state of West Virginia.
Bishop Menjivar, who is 55 and originally from El Salvador, has a unique backstory. He attempted to cross the U.S. border illegally three times before finally being smuggled into the country in 1990, hidden in the trunk of a car. After arriving, he worked various jobs until he became a citizen. By 2023, he was appointed as the first Salvadoran bishop in the U.S. and the auxiliary bishop of Washington.
In an editorial for the Catholic Standard back in April 2025, Menjivar criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, labeling them as a “sabotage that violates basic human rights and dignity.” He urged those in government roles to speak out against these policies, questioning how Catholics supporting such measures could remain indifferent to the suffering caused by them. His words were poignant: “Don’t you understand the pain and misery…is your conscience agitated?”
Christopher Hale, a former Obama campaign member, mentioned that Leo’s final tweet before becoming pope retweeted a message related to Menjivar’s concerns regarding Trump’s relationship with El Salvador’s President Nayib Boucle. Hale characterized Menjivar’s appointment as remarkable, as he will lead in a predominantly white state that largely supported Trump.
Alongside Menjivar, Boxey has been appointed and is the second auxiliary bishop. At 46, Boxey has a law background from Harvard and has served as a chaplain at Howard University. He has been quite vocal regarding Trump’s administration, especially on issues concerning diversity. Boxey emphasized the importance of diversity, calling it a gift from God, and argued against the perception that it should be viewed negatively.
His perspective on inclusion is rooted in a historical context, asserting that much of American history has been exclusionary, particularly concerning race. He stated, “That’s just un-American, un-Christian, anti-Catholic.” Boxey also used occasions like the 2019 March for Life Mass to advocate for the support of marginalized groups, emphasizing the need to protect not just unborn children but also those suffering from racism and discrimination.
The timing of these appointments seems relevant, especially as Trump publicly criticized the Pope, suggesting he should focus on his papal duties rather than politics. In contrast, Pope Leo expressed that he wouldn’t shy away from addressing the Trump administration’s stance on various issues.
