Pope Leo XIV has appointed Mexican-born media executive Maria Montserrat Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, making her the first non-religious woman to head a department of the Roman Curia.
Alvarado, currently president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, will assume the position on November 1, succeeding Paolo Ruffini, who is retiring after leading the department for eight years.
The appointment was announced by the Vatican on June 2, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to expand the participation of laypeople and women in senior Church leadership positions.
The Dicastery for Communication oversees the Vatican’s major media operations, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, the newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, the Holy See Press Office, Vatican Media and its publishing and broadcasting services.
Alvarado has led EWTN News since 2023, overseeing its international media platforms, which produce content in seven languages across television, radio, print, digital and social media.
Born in Mexico City, she studied at Florida International University and George Washington University. Before joining EWTN, she held leadership positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty between 2009 and 2023.
In a statement following her appointment, Alvarado described the decision as unexpected but said she accepted the responsibility with a sincere desire to serve the Pope.
She also expressed appreciation to Ruffini for his leadership, pledging to continue strengthening the department’s work in communicating the Church’s mission across the world.
Her appointment marks another development in the growing presence of women in senior Vatican positions, following similar appointments under Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV.
In January 2025, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, making her the first woman to head a Vatican dicastery.
Pope Leo also appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli in June 2026 to lead the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which oversees issues including migration, environmental protection, peace and development.
The appointments reflect changes introduced through the reform of the Roman Curia, which opened several senior administrative positions to laypeople, including women.
Alvarado’s appointment takes effect on November 1, 2026.