Maria Montserrat Alvarado
Coverage of Maria Montserrat Alvarado in the Nexus archive.
- Pope names first lay woman as head of a Vatican department
The Pope has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, a lay woman and CEO of a Catholic television network, as the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. This marks the first time in Vatican history a lay woman leads a Vatican department, reflecting efforts to modernize the Church and elevate women's roles.
- Pope appoints first lay woman to head the Vatican's communications department
The Pope has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and COO of EWTN News, as the first lay woman to lead the Vatican's communications department. The appointment was announced alongside a portrait of Alvarado near St. Peter's Square in Rome.
- Pope names Mexican-American broadcasting executive to lead Vatican communications
Pope Leo XIV appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, president of EWTN News, as the new head of the Vatican's Dicastery of Communications, replacing Paolo Ruffini. The move marks the first time a layperson and woman leads a major Vatican department, aligning with Pope Francis's precedent of promoting women to leadership roles.