Montserrat Alvarado to become Vatican communications head on November 1

Montserrat Alvarado will become the prefect of the Dicastery for Communication on November 1. Pope Leo XIV appointed Alvarado, the former president and chief executive of EWTN News, to the position in early June.

Alvarado is the first laywoman who is not a member of a religious order to be appointed as a prefect of a Vatican dicastery. In an interview with EWTN News In Depth, she described the new role as a privilege, an honor, and a great adventure.

Alvarado stated that the mission of the dicastery is to communicate Christ to the world in communion with the Pope. She noted that her work involves serving the Church and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit within the current pontificate rather than imposing personal views. She also acknowledged the challenges of moving to a new country and learning a new language.