Pope Leo XIV introduces Maria Montserrat Alvarado as Vatican communications chief

Mixed · 2Pope Leo XIV introduced the Vatican's new communications chief, Maria Montserrat Alvarado, on Friday 6 November. He praised her experience, creativity and "liveliness". 1 2 Mixed · 2Alvarado is a Mexican-American former head of the Washington, D.C.-based EWTN Catholic broadcasting group. She took over as prefect of the Dicastery for Communications on 1 November, succeeding Paolo Ruffini, and is the first woman to lead the office. 1 2 Mixed · 2The Pope told reporters that her arrival would address some of the "challenging" concerns facing Vatican communications. He said she would accompany him on his three-nation Latin American tour and help "in the very important dimension of communication", and he referred to her by the nickname "Montse". 1 2

Mixed · 2The office has long been criticised by Vatican financial officials over its budget and staffing. Journalists have also complained that it is too slow to respond to requests for information and comment, if it responds at all. 1 2 Mixed · 2The coverage, written by the Associated Press, describes Vatican communications as shaped by a secretive and defensive ethos and a general distrust of secular media. 1 2 Mixed · 2At her first press conference this week, Alvarado appeared alongside Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni at the traditional briefing before Leo's tour of Latin America. Bruni gave details of the schedule and took questions, particularly about the Pope's health. Alvarado said she had access to Leo and could speak for him, including on his return to Peru, which she said was "very important to him". She also relayed a message from him to journalists. 1 2

Mixed · 2The AP describes her style as casual and informal, in contrast with the usually careful and stiff institutional responses. Her quip that Leo would eventually go to Mexico caused a minor stir in some Spanish-language outlets. The Vatican foreign minister had said the same thing the previous week. 1 2 Mixed · 2In an interview with EWTN, Alvarado said Leo wanted a "next-generation professional" at a moment when digital and traditional communications are converging. She said her priority was to communicate the Catholic faith and what is in Leo's heart, adding: "In no way am I imposing a vision. I'm very much receiving one and executing it." Leo has said he wants the Church's communication to come from a more "explicitly missionary perspective". 1 2 Mixed · 2EWTN News, which Alvarado led from 2023, describes itself as the world's largest Catholic media organisation. Its family of outlets generally skews conservative. Born in Mexico City, Alvarado moved to the US as a girl. She joined EWTN as a news anchor in 2021, after holding leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. 1 2

Mixed · 2The job is a demanding one. The dicastery runs the Vatican press office and its television, radio, online, publishing, photographic and newspaper operations in several languages. Vatican Media has modernised much of its content, but L'Osservatore Romano still publishes a print afternoon edition. 1 2