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Pope Leo XIV Appoints Woman to Lead Key Vatican Department

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Pope Leo XIV appointed Mexican-American journalist María Montserrat Alvarado as prefect of the Dicastery for Communications, a significant first for the Vatican.
  • Alvarado, currently president and COO of EWTN News, will lead one of the Holy See's largest departments starting November 1.
  • Her extensive background includes legal work defending religious freedom and managing international media platforms for EWTN.

In an unprecedented move for the Roman Curia, Pope Leo XIV has appointed María Montserrat Alvarado, a prominent Mexican-American journalist, as the new prefect of the Dicastery for Communications. This marks a historic first, placing a laywoman at the helm of one of the Vatican's most significant departments.

Montserrat has played a fundamental international role, leading and accompanying EWTN's expansion at a critical moment in the history of our apostolate: the transition to a digital expression of our Catholic mission.

— Michael P. WarsawDirector of the Board and CEO of EWTN, commenting on Alvarado's contributions.

Alvarado, who currently serves as president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, is set to assume her new role on November 1. She will succeed Paolo Ruffini, who was the first layman appointed to this position by Pope Francis in 2018. The Dicastery for Communications oversees a large operation with approximately 500 staff members.

Alvarado, widely known as "Montse," brings a wealth of experience to the position. Born in Mexico City, she holds degrees from Florida International University and George Washington University. From 2009 to 2023, she held senior positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where her team successfully argued twelve cases before the Supreme Court, including those involving religious freedom for various groups. The Wall Street Journal once described her as an "advocate for all religions."

Equally important, she has remained deeply committed to the mission that defines EWTN: proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ and the teachings of his Church with clarity, fidelity, and charity.

— Michael P. WarsawHighlighting Alvarado's dedication to EWTN's core mission.

Since 2023, Alvarado has led EWTN News, managing international media platforms that produce content in seven languages across television, print, radio, digital, and social media. She has been credited with correcting the Catholic channel's previously contradictory positioning, which, despite its Catholic identity, had been critical of Pope Francis. Her tenure also saw the expansion of EWTN's global operations and strengthened collaboration among its media outlets.

I received the news with profound gratitude, humility, and trust in the Lord.

— María Montserrat AlvaradoAlvarado's initial reaction to her appointment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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