A woman has been appointed for the first time to lead the Vatican's communications department.
Maria Montserrat Alvarado, who is currently head of Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will take up the role in November. She'll replace Paolo Ruffini, who has been in the role since 2018 and who's retiring.
Her appointment continues Pope Leo's path of reform and renewal which was first implemented by Pope Francis. During his tenure, Francis appointed several lay women to senior positions of leadership and responsibility within the Catholic Church.
Alvarado who was born in Mexico City, has been president and chief operating officer of EWTN News since 2023. The company was launched by a nun named Mother Angelica in 1981 and is now a global media conglomerate with nearly a dozen TV stations, a publishing division and a newspaper and radio affiliate. The station often appeals to conservative US Catholics, with President Trump appearing on the network several times. EWTN's CEO Michael P Warsaw, said Alvarado had earned “the trust and respect of everyone privileged to work alongside her”.
From 2009 to 2023, Alvarado held leadership positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, working on religious freedom initiatives.
Following the announcement, Alvarado said: “While this appointment was unexpected, I receive it with a sincere desire to serve the Holy Father as he begins his pontificate. And I am grateful to Paolo Ruffini for his leadership throughout the last years and look forward to continuing, in friendship and hope, the important work of strengthening the dicastery so it may continue to serve the Church in Rome and everywhere to communicate Christ to the world.”
The Vatican's Dicastery for Communications oversees the Holy See's news portal, radio station, newspaper and press office.
(Additional reporting by Reuters)