Pope Leo XIV Met with Montserrat Alvarado the 1st Lay Woman Appointed as New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communications at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV granted an audience to Maria Montserrat Alvarado, the designated Prefect of the Dicastery for Communications, on Aug. 3, 2026.
The Pope appointed the American of Mexican descent on June 2. She will take office on November 1, becoming the first woman to head the Dicastery for Communications.
Alvarado is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of EWTN News, the news division of the Eternal Word Television Network. She succeeds Paolo Ruffini.
She is also the first woman not belonging to a religious order to be appointed Prefect of a Vatican dicastery.

Born in Mexico City and educated at Florida International University and George Washington University, Alvarado spent over a decade defending religious liberty at the Becket Fund before joining EWTN News in 2023. At EWTN, she managed an expansive global multimedia network operating in seven languages.

Her appointment signals a continuation of the Curial reforms initiated by Pope Francis, which opened leadership roles to the laity. The Dicastery for Communication oversees all Vatican media outlets, including Vatican News, the Holy See Press Office, and L’Osservatore Romano.

“While this appointment was unexpected, I receive it with a sincere desire to serve the Holy Father,” Alvarado said, expressing gratitude to Ruffini and looking forward to "the important work of strengthening the dicastery."

Ruffini welcomed his successor, noting they will work closely on a smooth transition over the coming months. EWTN Chairman and CEO Michael P. Warsaw also offered his full support, praising Alvarado's leadership and earning the "trust and respect" of her colleagues.
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