Vatican Milestone: Pope Leo XIV Appoints EWTN News COO Maria Montserrat Alvarado as First Laywoman Prefect of Holy See Communications

Vatican Milestone: Pope Leo XIV Appoints EWTN News COO Maria Montserrat Alvarado as First Laywoman Prefect of Holy See Communications

-By Ruben Mario Brodrick 

​VATICAN CITY — In a historic move for Church leadership, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado as the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See. The official announcement, made on June 2, 2026, marks a monumental milestone: Alvarado will be the first non-religious woman ever appointed as the prefect of a Vatican dicastery.

​The appointment is scheduled to take effect later this year on November 1, 2026.

​Succeeding a Groundbreaker

​Alvarado, a laywoman originally from Mexico City, currently serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News. She will succeed Paolo Ruffini, who made history himself in 2018 as the very first lay prefect of a dicastery. Ruffini will be stepping down as he turns 70 this October.

​A Proven Track Record in Media and Liberty

​Alvarado brings a wealth of executive and advocacy experience to her new Vatican role:

  • ​Education: Earned degrees from Florida International University and George Washington University.
  • ​Religious Liberty: Held key leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty from 2009 to 2023.
  • ​Global Media: Since 2023, she has overseen EWTN News operations, managing the production of religious content in seven languages across multiple global platforms.

​The Scope of the Role

​Established in 2015, the Dicastery for Communication is a massive apparatus that handles both the operational and theological-pastoral aspects of Church communication. As prefect, Alvarado will oversee:

  • ​Vatican News and Vatican Radio
  • ​L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican newspaper)
  • ​The Holy See Press Office
  • ​Various other core papal media services

​In Her Own Words

​Following the announcement, Alvarado expressed her gratitude and readiness to step into the historic role:

​“While this appointment was unexpected, I receive it with a sincere desire to serve the Holy Father... [and] look forward to continuing... the important work of strengthening the dicastery so it may continue to serve the Church... to communicate Christ to the world.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking: Agbor Catholic Community Mourns as Fr. Chukwuma Collapses, Dies on the Pulpit During New Year Mass

Image
-​By Ruben Mario Brodrick  The Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku and the entire Ika nation have been plunged into deep mourning following the sudden and poetic transition of one of their most dedicated spiritual pillars, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Chukwuma . In an event that has left the congregation of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Boji-Boji Agbor, in a state of shock and solemn reflection, the beloved cleric breathed his last while performing his final earthly duty: presiding over the New Year Day Mass. ​Witnesses recount that Father Chukwuma was standing at the pulpit, delivering the message of hope for the year 2026, when he collapsed in the presence of his parishioners. Despite the immediate efforts of those present, it became clear that the veteran priest had finished his race. For many of the faithful, his death is seen as a "saintly exit," occurring while he was clad in his sacred vestments and standing at the altar of God—the very place he dedicated his...
Read more

Archbishop Akubeze Announces the Passing of Fr. Jude Ezenwa

Image
-By Ruben Mario Brodrick  It is with a heavy heart that Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze announces the passing of Fr. Jude Ezenwa, who died on the afternoon of Sunday, September 7, 2025. The news was shared by Fr. Mike Oyanoafoh on behalf of the Archbishop. Fr. Jude Ezenwa will be remembered for his dedication and service as Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Parish, Ugo in Orhiomwon  Local Government Area of Edo State.  Further details regarding funeral arrangements and memorial services will be announced in the coming days. We ask for prayers for the repose of his soul and for his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in perfect peace.
Read more

Why Pope Francis died -Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Image
Why Pope Francis died -Pastor Chris Oyakhilome April 26, 2025  Pope Francis Was Killed, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Reveals Chris Oyakhilome, A controversial Nigerian cleric, has claimed without evidence that Pope Francis died from the effects of taking the coronavirus vaccine. Mr Oyakhilome, president of LoveWorld Incorporated, made the claim on Saturday, about five years after he falsely claimed that there was a link between the 5G network, Coronavirus, and the Anti-Christ. In April 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown directives, the pastor slammed his colleagues for consenting to the closure of churches. In January 2021, Pope Francis said that people have a moral obligation to receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines, revealing that he was expecting his first dose. According to the National Catholic Reporter, the pope said that taking the vaccine was a moral choice because it was about saving lives. Claim on Pope’s death While the Vatican announced on Mon...
Read more