How Is Pope Leo Shaping the U.S. Church? Bishops.
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, has been influencing the future of the American Catholic Church through his appointments of bishops, focusing on pastoral care and local leadership rather than political considerations.
- Over the past year, he has made about 30 announcements regarding new, elevated, or retiring bishops in the U.S., signaling the direction of the church hierarchy under his leadership.
- His appointments reflect the changing demographics of American Catholics, exemplified by the recent appointment of Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, the first Salvadoran bishop in the U.S., who has a personal history as a former undocumented immigrant.
- Bishop Menjivar-Ayala highlights the global perspective of Pope Leo XIV’s choices, noting parallels between his own immigrant experience and the pope’s missionary work and citizenship journey in Peru.
