Vatican Communications Chief: Alvarado Takes Over With $200M Budget Scrutiny

Ordinary readers and journalists will soon see a different style from the Vatican's main newsroom. María Montserrat Alvarado assumed the role of prefect for the Dicastery for Communication on November 1. She is the first woman to hold the position, which oversees one of the most expensive parts of the Holy See's bureaucracy.

The office has long faced criticism from internal financial officials regarding its budget and staff size. External critics, including journalists, have complained that the Vatican responds too slowly to information requests. Alvarado's appointment signals a shift toward a more informal tone, aiming to address these long-standing grievances about the pace and accessibility of Vatican communications.

Alvarado previously led EWTN, a Washington, D.C.-based Catholic media network. She joined EWTN as a news anchor in 2021 after working in leadership roles at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. EWTN, which she has directed since 2023, operates television, radio, and digital platforms in seven languages. It is part of a conservative media family that includes Catholic News Agency and the National Catholic Register.

Pope Leo XIV praised Alvarado's creativity and vitality during a Friday presentation. He stated that her experience would help address complex communication challenges. "And so, now we have the wonderful experience, the creativity and the life and vitality of Montse, who will accompany us on this journey and help the Vatican and me in the very important dimension of communication," he said. The pope has expressed a desire to reform how the Church communicates, emphasizing an explicitly missionary perspective.

Alvarado demonstrated her new style during a press conference earlier this week. She joined Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni to discuss the pope's upcoming tour of three Latin American countries. While Bruni answered questions about the agenda, Alvarado clarified that she had direct access to the pope and could speak on his behalf. She shared a prepared message from Leo, who expressed hope that media coverage would show the diversity of the Latin American Church as a force for peace.

Her comments on the pope's visit to Peru and a future trip to Mexico surprised some Spanish-language media outlets. The Vatican foreign minister had mentioned the Mexico visit the previous week, but Alvarado's casual delivery marked a break from rigid institutional responses. "He is very excited," she said. "He knows these streets."

In an interview with EWTN before leaving, Alvarado said she believes Leo chose her because digital and traditional communications are converging. She described herself as a professional of a new generation. Her primary goal is to communicate the Catholic faith and the pope's vision, not her own. "Communicating Christ to the world is the mandate of the dicastery of communication, and it will be done in tune with the Holy Father," she said.