Pope Leo XIV Appoints Critic of Trump Deportation Policies as Bishop of Naples
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Emilio Biosca Agüero, a prominent critic of the Trump administration's deportation policies, as the new Bishop of Naples in southwest Florida. This diocese is considered a conservative stronghold, having been won decisively by Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Father Biosca Agüero previously served at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington D.C., where he led a largely Salvadoran congregation. He publicly criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for targeting Hispanic individuals rather than violent criminals, noting that over 40 of his parishioners were detained or deported following intensified enforcement efforts. The appointment highlights a strategic move by the Vatican to place clergy with Central American connections in prominent roles within Republican-leaning areas, similar to recent appointments in Palm Beach and West Virginia. The Naples Diocese serves a rapidly growing Hispanic Catholic community, making this leadership change significant amidst ongoing political tensions regarding immigration in the United States.
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