Pope Leo XIV has appointed Mexican-American media executive Maria Montserrat Alvarado as the first laywoman to head a department of the Vatican, marking a new milestone in women’s leadership within the Catholic Church.
Alvarado officially assumed office on Sunday, November 1, as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, becoming the first woman who is not a religious sister to lead one of the Holy See’s major departments.
The 40-year-old succeeds Paolo Ruffini, who was appointed to the position by Pope Francis in 2018 as the first layperson to head a Vatican dicastery.
Alvarado previously served as president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, a Catholic media organisation, where she oversaw its international news operations across television, radio, print and digital platforms.
Born in Mexico City and raised in the United States, she has also held leadership positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, an organisation that focuses on religious freedom.
The Dicastery for Communication oversees the Vatican’s media operations, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, the Holy See Press Office, L’Osservatore Romano newspaper and Vatican Media.
Alvarado’s appointment was announced by the Vatican on June 2, with the transition scheduled to take effect on November 1.
Speaking about the appointment, she said it was unexpected and described her new responsibility as an opportunity to serve the Pope and the Catholic Church.
Her appointment follows earlier steps to increase women’s participation in senior Vatican leadership positions.
In January 2025, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a Vatican dicastery, placing her in charge of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Pope Leo has also appointed other women to senior positions, including Sister Alessandra Smerilli, who was named prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in June 2026.
