Pope Leo XIV has named Mexican-American media executive Maria Montserrat Alvarado as the first laywoman to lead a Vatican department. This marks a significant step forward for women’s leadership in the Catholic Church.
Alvarado officially took office on Sunday, November 1, as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. She is the first woman who is not a religious sister to lead one of the Holy See’s main departments.
At 40, Alvarado succeeds Paolo Ruffini. He was appointed by Pope Francis in 2018 as the first layperson to lead a Vatican dicastery.
Before this role, Alvarado was president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, a Catholic media organisation. She managed its international news operations for television, radio, print, and digital platforms.
Alvarado was born in Mexico City and grew up in the United States. She has also held leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, an organization focused on religious freedom.
The Dicastery for Communication manages the Vatican’s media, such as Vatican News, Vatican Radio, the Holy See Press Office, L’Osservatore Romano newspaper, and Vatican Media.
The Vatican announced Alvarado’s appointment on June 2. She will begin her new role on November 1.
She said the appointment was unexpected and called her new role an opportunity to serve the Pope and the Catholic Church.
Her appointment follows earlier steps to increase women’s participation in senior Vatican leadership positions.