Pope Leo XIV appoints Mexican-American executive to lead Vatican communications
Pope Leo XIV has named Maria Montserrat Alvarado, the Mexican-American president of EWTN News, as the new prefect of the Dicastery of Communications, according to an Associated Press report. Alvarado replaces Paolo Ruffini in the office that oversees the Vatican’s television, radio, online, publishing and newspaper operations. By appointing a layperson and a woman to lead a major Vatican department, Leo is continuing a trend started by Pope Francis, who elevated several women to leadership roles in the Holy See hierarchy. Pope Leo has indicated he wants to reform how the Catholic Church communicates its message and has summoned cardinals later this month to discuss reassessing the effectiveness of ecclesial communication. Alvarado, born in Mexico City and now head of the largest Catholic media organization, previously held leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. During Pope Francis’ pontificate, EWTN’s programming often featured critics of the Argentine pope, and in 2021 Francis criticized such media criticism as “the work of the devil,” a remark widely interpreted as directed at EWTN.
What’s reported
Pope Leo XIV appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado as prefect of the Dicastery of Communications, replacing Paolo Ruffini.
Alvarado is the Mexican-American president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, which claims to be the largest Catholic media organization worldwide.
She is a layperson and a woman, following Pope Francis’ pattern of promoting women to leadership positions in the Vatican.
Pope Leo has called cardinals to a meeting later this month to assess ecclesial communication effectiveness from a missionary perspective.
Alvarado previously worked at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and joined EWTN as a news anchor.
During Pope Francis’ papacy, EWTN often featured English-speaking critics of the pope, and in 2021 Francis called such criticism “the work of the devil.”
Key figures
Pope Leo XIV: name
Maria Montserrat Alvarado: president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, new prefect of the Dicastery of Communications
Paolo Ruffini: replaced as prefect
Sources: abcnews.com
