Pope Leo names Catholic media executive as first woman to lead Vatican communications

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo named an executive with US Catholic media conglomerate EWTN ​as the new head of the ‌Vatican’s communications department on Tuesday, in the first appointment of a woman to the senior Church role.Maria Montserrat ​Alvarado, originally from Mexico City, will ​lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications, a sprawling ⁠operation that oversees the Vatican’s news portal, ​radio station, newspaper and press office, among other ​entities.Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News since 2023, will replace Paolo Ruffini, who has been ​in the role since 2018 and is ​retiring.She will start her duties in November, said a ‌statement.The ⁠Eternal Word Television Network was launched by a nun named Mother Angelica in 1981, but has grown into a global media conglomerate with ​nearly a ​dozen TV ⁠stations, a book publishing division, a newspaper and radio affiliate.The station often ​appeals to conservative US Catholics.

President Donald ​Trump ⁠has appeared on the network several times and one of its top hosts is a Fox ⁠News ​contributor.The network was an occasional ​critic of the late Pope Francis, who complained about it “bad-mouthing” ​him....