Pope hires EWTN News president to run Vatican communications
EWTN was founded in Alabama by Mother Angelica.
Mason Reed 
Pope Leo XIV has made a historic appointment, tapping Maria Montserrat Alvarado to lead the Vatican’s communications efforts. As reported by Vatican News, the current president and COO of EWTN News will take over as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication effective Nov. 1.
A Trailblazing Leader
Alvarado’s move to the Vatican marks a significant milestone: she is the first woman who is not a nun to head a Vatican administrative department. Her appointment is viewed as a key step in Pope Francis’ ongoing mission to reform the Roman Curia. She steps into the role previously held by Paolo Ruffini, who in 2018 became the first lay prefect of the Curia.
Born in Mexico City and educated at Florida International University and George Washington University, Alvarado brings a wealth of experience to the role. Before her tenure at EWTN, she spent 14 years at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. At EWTN, she managed an expansive international media operation spanning television, radio, digital, and print across seven languages.
Support from the EWTN Family
Michael P. Warsaw, CEO of EWTN—the global network founded by Mother Angelica in 1981 at an Irondale, Alabama monastery—expressed full support for the transition. “We offer her our prayers, our encouragement, and the full support of the EWTN family as she begins this important mission,” Warsaw stated.
Warsaw praised Alvarado’s role in pushing EWTN toward deeper digital engagement and noted her unwavering commitment to the network's core mission. 205focus.com readers may recognize Alvarado from her recent on-screen commentary during last year's papal election, which resulted in the selection of the first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.
Looking Ahead
In a statement regarding her new position, Alvarado expressed humility and resolve. “While this appointment was unexpected, I receive it with a sincere desire to serve the Holy Father as he begins his pontificate,” she said. She also expressed her intention to continue strengthening the Dicastery for Communication, which oversees vital Vatican outlets including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, and L’Osservatore Romano.
