Maria Alvarado Named First Lay Woman Prefect of Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication

Vatican, June 2, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, as Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment is set to take effect on November 5, 2026.

Alvarado has led EWTN News’ global and multilingual news operations since 2023, overseeing its television, radio, print, digital, and social media platforms. During her tenure, she played a key role in strengthening the network’s international news presence and fostering greater collaboration across its multilingual services.

Commenting on the appointment, Michael P. Warsaw, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of EWTN, highlighted Alvarado’s contributions to the network’s growth and mission.

“Alvarado’s background in international media, public affairs, and Church engagement has helped shape EWTN’s outreach at a critical moment in the history of our apostolate: the pivot into a deeper engagement with the digital space,” Warsaw said. “Just as importantly, she has remained deeply committed to the mission that defines EWTN: proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ and the teachings of His Church with clarity, fidelity, and charity.”

In a statement issued after her appointment, Alvarado said she received the news “with deep gratitude, humility, and trust in the Lord,” and noted that the witness of the EWTN family had strengthened her faith.

The Dicastery for Communication was established by Pope Francis in 2015 as part of his reform of the Roman Curia. It brings together the Holy See’s major communications institutions, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican Media, the Vatican Publishing House and printing press, Filmoteca Vaticana, and the Holy See Press Office. The Prefect is appointed for a five-year term and is responsible for overseeing the Vatican’s communications network.

Born in Mexico City, Alvarado earned degrees from Florida International University and George Washington University. She has received several national recognitions for her commitment to religious freedom and service to the Church. Her writings and commentary have also appeared in various international media outlets.

Courtesy & Photo credit: EWTNVatican