MXMexican-American executive Maria Montserrat Alvarado has assumed the role of director of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, becoming the first lay woman to hold such a high-ranking position within the Roman Curia. At 39 years old, Alvarado previously served as president and operations director of EWTN News, the news division of the largest Catholic television network in the United States. Her appointment by Pope Leo XIV took effect on November 1, marking a significant shift in the leadership of Vatican media outlets including Vatican News, Radio Vaticana, and L’Osservatore Romano. The article notes that her selection was direct rather than through a standard competitive process, surprising even Alvarado herself. It highlights the complex history between EWTN and the previous papacy, noting that Pope Francis had criticized conservative Catholic media networks for their persistent criticism of his reforms.
Bias read (Center): The article maintains a neutral tone by presenting factual career details and historical context regarding EWTN's relationship with the Vatican without using loaded language or taking a side on the theological or political implications of the appointment.
