Pope Leo names EWTN executive María Montserrat Alvarado to head Vatican communications
Pope Leo XIV has named María Montserrat Alvarado, the Mexican-American president of EWTN News, to lead the Vatican's communications empire, appointing the first laywoman to head a Holy See dicastery.
A historic appointment
Pope Leo XIV today named María Montserrat Alvarado, a Mexican-born U.S. citizen, as prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, the first laywoman to lead a Vatican dicastery on her own. She will take over from Paolo Ruffini on November 1, succeeding the Italian journalist who has held the role since 2018.
Although this appointment was unexpected, I receive it with a sincere desire to serve the Holy Father at the beginning of his pontificate.
The appointment was announced on June 2 and marks a significant institutional step in Pope Leo's young papacy.
From conservative media to the Holy See
Alvarado arrives from EWTN News, the world's largest Catholic media network, where she has served as president and chief operating officer since 2023. Founded by Mother Angelica in 1981, EWTN is known for its conservative editorial line and during Pope Francis's pontificate regularly featured critics of the Argentine pope. In 2021, Francis described such coverage as "the work of the devil."
That great Catholic television network that constantly bad-mouths the pope — that is the work of the devil.
The choice of Alvarado is widely read as an attempt by Pope Leo XIV to bridge the divide between the Vatican and conservative Catholic sectors, especially in the United States.
A first for women and laity
Alvarado's nomination deepens the Curia's opening to laypeople and women, a path promoted by Pope Francis. She becomes the first female non-religious prefect of a dicastery, following Ruffini who was himself the first layperson (male) appointed to the same dicastery in 2018. Her portfolio includes all Vatican media outlets: Vatican News, Radio Vaticana, L’Osservatore Romano, the press office, and the publishing and broadcasting services.
- Pope Francis creates the Dicastery for Communication as part of Curia reform.
- Pope Francis appoints Paolo Ruffini as the dicastery's first lay prefect.
- María Montserrat Alvarado becomes president and COO of EWTN News.
- Pope Leo XIV names Alvarado as prefect, effective November 1.
- Alvarado officially assumes the role of prefect.
Communications overhaul continues
The Dicastery for Communication was created by Pope Francis in 2015 to streamline the Holy See's sprawling media operations. Pope Leo has signalled his intention to reassess the effectiveness of ecclesial communication, summoning cardinals later this month for a special meeting on the topic. The appointment of a U.S.-based executive with a political science background marks a shift away from the Italian institutional style that had dominated Vatican media under Ruffini.
Smooth transition promised
Paolo Ruffini, who will turn 70 in October, welcomed the appointment and said he is working on a "smooth transition" with Alvarado. He stressed the need for the dicastery to remain constantly attuned to the rapidly changing world of communication.
Our guiding star was and continues to be: never stop, be present in the here and now, in this very hour, as the touchstone of a communication that is an instrument of a communion that grows over time.
