Pope Leo XIV has appointed María Montserrat Alvarado, current president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, as the new prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. The head of the news division of the U.S. Catholic network will assume the post on November 1, succeeding Paolo Ruffini at the helm of the body responsible for coordinating the Holy See’s media outlets.
The appointment marks a milestone in the recent history of the Roman Curia, as Alvarado becomes the first laywoman, not a member of a religious order, to lead a Vatican dicastery. The decision is part of the process of opening positions of responsibility to the lay faithful, a process promoted in recent years and consolidated by the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium.
A career linked to religious freedom and communication
Born in Mexico City, María Montserrat Alvarado pursued higher education at Florida International University and George Washington University.
From 2009 to 2023 she held various positions of responsibility at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, one of the most influential legal organizations defending religious freedom in the United States. During those years she took part in initiatives related to the protection of freedom of conscience and the promotion of human dignity.
Since 2023 she has served as president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, the news division of the Eternal Word Television Network. In that role she has overseen an international media network that produces content in seven languages and includes television, radio, print, digital platforms and social media.
Leading the Holy See’s main communications body
The Dicastery for Communication was created by Pope Francis in 2015 as part of the reform of the Roman Curia. Its mission is to coordinate and oversee all official media of the Holy See.
Under its structure are Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican Media, the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican publishing house, the Vatican Printing Press and the Vatican Film Library.
In addition to its strictly operational functions, the dicastery is responsible for developing the pastoral and theological dimension of ecclesial communication in the contemporary world.
Continuity after Paolo Ruffini’s tenure
Alvarado will replace Paolo Ruffini, appointed by Pope Francis in 2018 as the first lay prefect of a Curia dicastery. Ruffini will turn 70 next October, the age set for retirement in such positions.
After the appointment was announced, the future prefect expressed her gratitude to the Holy Father and stated her intention to continue the work carried out in recent years.
“Although this appointment was unexpected, I receive it with a sincere desire to serve the Holy Father at the beginning of his pontificate,” Alvarado said.
The future prefect also thanked Ruffini for his service and expressed her desire to continue strengthening the Dicastery so that it may keep serving the Church and helping to communicate Christ to the world.
For his part, Ruffini announced that both will work together over the coming months to ensure an orderly transition and guarantee the continuity of ongoing projects.