2 publishers · first seen Thu, 05 Nov 2026 09:00 UTC · updated Sat, 07 Nov 2026 08:09 UTC
Pope Leo XIV introduced María Montserrat Alvarado as the new Vatican communications chief, praising her experience and creativity. Alvarado, the first woman to lead the office, took over on Nov. 1, succeeding Paolo Ruffini. The office, one of the largest parts of the Holy See bureaucracy, has faced criticism over its budget, staffing, and responsiveness. Alvarado, a Mexican-American former head of EWTN Catholic broadcasting, offered a glimpse of her communications style at her inaugural press conference, speaking casually and even sparking a minor media kerfuffle with a quip about a potential papal visit to Mexico. Pope Leo XIV has expressed a desire to reform the way the Catholic Church communicates, aiming for a more explicitly missionary perspective.
Alvarado's appointment is seen as an effort to bring an American management style to the Vatican's communications operation and diversify its historically Italian-dominated leadership. Recent Vatican communications decisions suggest a changing approach, with the pope announcing his own health updates and the Vatican confirming stories previously reported by secular media.
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