Pope Leo Names First Woman to Lead Vatican Communications

Pope Leo has named Maria Montserrat Alvarado, an executive at the US Catholic media group EWTN, as the new head of the Vatican’s communications department, marking the first time a woman has held the senior Church role.

Alvarado, who is originally from Mexico City, will take up the role in November, succeeding Paolo Ruffini, who has led the department since 2018 and is retiring.

She has served since 2023 as president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, part of the Eternal Word Television Network. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication oversees a broad media operation that includes Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano and the Holy See Press Office.

The appointment has also drawn attention because of Alvarado’s ties to EWTN, one of the most influential Catholic media networks in the United States. Founded by Mother Angelica in 1981, the network has grown into a global media conglomerate with television stations, a book publishing division, a newspaper and radio affiliates.

EWTN often appeals to conservative US Catholics. President Donald Trump has appeared on the network several times, and one of its top hosts is a Fox News contributor. The network was an occasional critic of the late Pope Francis, who complained about it “bad-mouthing” him.

(reuters, max)