Pope Leo appoints new bishops who have spoken against Trump administration

WorldPolitics
2 May 2026 • 8:13 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Pope Leo appoints new bishops who have spoken against Trump administration

  • Pope Leo XIV has appointed three new bishops who have previously criticized the Trump administration or its supporters, amidst an apparent feud with the White House.
  • Pope Leo has openly criticized President Donald Trump's war with Iran, calling his threat to annihilate Iranian civilization "truly unacceptable," while Trump has labeled Leo "weak on crime."
  • One new bishop, Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, a formerly undocumented immigrant, previously criticized President Trump's hardline immigration policies.
  • Another appointee, Robert Boxie III, has condemned attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which the Trump administration sought to cut.
  • The third bishop, Gary Studniewski, criticized the Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, describing the event as "very disturbing."

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