Pope introduces Vatican communications chief Maria Montserrat Alvarado to a demanding role
A historic appointment
Alvarado is the first woman to head the Vatican communications office. The dicastery is among the largest and most costly units of the Holy See bureaucracy, and has faced scrutiny over its budget and staffing.
Journalists have also criticized the office for delays in answering requests for information and comment. Leo said Alvarado’s arrival would help address challenging concerns around Vatican communications.
A new public approach
At her first press conference this week, Alvarado joined Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni before Leo’s three-nation Latin American tour. She conveyed the Pope’s thoughts about returning to a region that shaped his ministry and pastoral identity.
Alvarado also shared Leo’s message that media could help present the diversity of the Latin American Church as a source of healing and peace. Her informal manner drew attention after Spanish-language outlets interpreted a joke about a future papal visit to Mexico as a serious indication.
Experience across media
Before her appointment, Alvarado led EWTN News from 2023. The organization describes itself as the world’s largest Catholic media organization, with television, radio, online and publishing operations in seven languages.
Its wider network includes the Catholic News Agency, National Catholic Register and ACI Group news agencies. In an interview with EWTN before leaving, Alvarado said digital and traditional communications are converging.
A broad Vatican portfolio
The dicastery oversees the Vatican press office and its television, radio, online, publishing, photographic and newspaper operations, which work in multiple languages. Vatican Media has updated much of its output in recent years, while L’Osservatore Romano continues to publish a daily print afternoon edition.
Alvarado said her priority would be to communicate the Catholic faith and Leo’s concerns, rather than advance her own vision. Leo has called for Church communications to adopt a more explicitly missionary perspective.
Key points
- Maria Montserrat Alvarado succeeds Paolo Ruffini as prefect of the Vatican’s communications dicastery.
- She is the first woman to lead the office.
- The dicastery runs a wide range of Vatican media operations in multiple languages.
- Pope Leo XIV wants Church communications to take a more explicitly missionary approach.