Today, Pope Leo XIV named the head of EWTN News, María Montserrat (Montse) Alvarado, as new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication:
The Holy Father has appointed Dr. Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. Dr. Montserrat Alvarado will take office on 1 November.
Curriculum vitae
Dr. Maria Montserrat Alvarado was born in Mexico City. She obtained her academic qualifications at Florida International University and George Washington University. From 2009 to 2023 she held senior positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Since 2023, she has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, the news division of the Eternal Word Television Network, where she oversees international media platforms that produce content in seven languages across television, print, radio, digital media and social media. (Bollettino)
It is quite an astonishing turn of events for EWTN, the network founded by Mother Angelica in 1980. The Alabama-based network was almost destroyed buy the hatred of heterodox bishops, headed by the infamous Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles (cf. this 1998 piece). During the Francis pontificate, Francis himself, fed gossip by the Uncle Ted McCarrick Club headed by Cardinal Cupich, was clear he didn't like the network (cf. this 2021 piece).
Now, an EWTN alumna will be at the heart of Vatican communications. Leo XIV is not who many think he is.
