Pope Leo appoints Maria Alvarado as Vatican media prefect

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, the president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, as the new prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment, announced on June 2, will take effect on November 1.

Alvarado will become the first laywoman to lead a dicastery, or department, of the Roman Curia. She succeeds Paolo Ruffini, a layman appointed by Pope Francis in 2018, who is retiring after reaching the age of 70. Alvarado is also believed to be the youngest person ever appointed to the role of prefect.

In a statement following the announcement, Alvarado said the appointment was unexpected but that she receives it with a sincere desire to serve. She expressed gratitude for Ruffini’s leadership and said she looks forward to continuing the work of strengthening the dicastery.

The Dicastery for Communication, established by Pope Francis in 2015, oversees all of the Holy See’s media and communications entities. This includes Vatican News, Vatican Radio, the newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican Publishing House, and the Holy See Press Office.

Alvarado, who was born in Mexico City and grew up in Miami, holds degrees in political science...