Montse Alvarado to Lead Vatican Communications Office
The appointment marks the first time a laywoman has served as a prefect for a Vatican dicastery.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Catholicism
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Montse Alvarado will begin her new role as prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication on November 1, 2026. She was appointed by the Holy Father to manage the integration of digital and traditional communications for the Holy See.
Why it matters
The Holy Father sought a next-generation professional to oversee all Holy See media and communication outlets to modernize the church's reach. Her leadership is expected to streamline operations across the diverse media landscape of the Vatican.
Alvarado brings 14 years of tenure from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty to her new role overseeing the Vatican publishing house, radio, and press office. She previously served as president and chief operating officer of EWTN News starting in 2023.
The players
Montse Alvarado
She is an experienced media professional and lawyer who previously led EWTN News and worked at the Becket Fund.
Pope Leo XIV
He is the leader of the Catholic Church who appointed Alvarado to her new administrative role.
Dicastery for Communication
This is the Vatican department responsible for coordinating all media and information services of the Holy See.
The details
The Dicastery for Communication manages a vast portfolio including Vatican News, Vatican Media, L'Osservatore Romano, and the Holy See Press Office. Alvarado will also oversee the Vatican's internet service, printing press, and photography service following her transition from EWTN, where she hosted EWTN News In Depth.
Timeline
Alvarado joined EWTN in 2021.
Alvarado became president and COO of EWTN News in 2023.
Pope Leo XIV held a live dialogue with young people in Indianapolis in November 2025.
Alvarado begins her term as prefect on November 1, 2026.
Culture Shift
The appointment reflects a significant movement within the Vatican toward incorporating lay leadership into high-level administrative roles previously reserved for clergy. This shift signals a broader institutional effort to align traditional ecclesiastical structures with contemporary media management practices.
Catholics around the world may notice shifts in how official church news and media are distributed and packaged digitally. These changes could alter how the faithful engage with daily news and official communications from the Holy See.
The takeaway
This appointment highlights the increasing reliance of global religious institutions on specialized media executives to manage modern information flows. The move suggests that digital integration will remain a top priority for the Vatican in the coming years.
Further reading
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