Montse Alvarado

Contents

Maria Montserrat "Montse" Alvarado (born 1986) is a Mexican-American media executive, journalist and television host. She has served as president and chief operating officer of EWTN News since 2023. On June 2, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed her prefect of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, effective November 1, 2026.[1]

Early life and education

Alvarado was born in 1986[2] in Mexico City, Mexico.[3] She earned a bachelor's degree from Florida International University and a master's degree from George Washington University.[3]

Career

Alvarado became a citizen of the United States in 2008.[4] In 2009, she joined the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit legal organization focused on religious liberty cases in the United States.[4] She was named vice president and executive director of Becket in 2017.[3] During her time at Becket, she worked in development, communications, strategy and operations.[3]

In March 2021, Alvarado became the founding host of EWTN News In Depth, a weekly news program covering current events in the Catholic Church, politics, and culture.[4] In 2023, she became president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, Inc.[4] In that position, she oversaw EWTN's news media platforms, including television, radio, print, digital, and social media operations.[1]

Roman Curia

On June 2, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Alvarado prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, effective November 1, 2026.[1] The dicastery oversees the Holy See's communications operations, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L'Osservatore Romano, Vatican Media, the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican publishing house, the Vatican printing press and the Vatican Film Library.[1]

Other activities and honors

Alvarado has served on the Montgomery County Commission for Women in Maryland and on the board of the Patients' Rights Action Fund.[3] She was also a lay consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Religious Liberty and a member or adviser to several Catholic organizations, including the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the GIVEN Institute, and the Catholic Information Center.[3]

In 2024, the University of Mary named Alvarado the first recipient of its Lumen Gentium Medal.[4]

Personal life

Alvarado is a practising Roman Catholic. She speaks English, Spanish, and French.[3]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4]"Pope Leo XIV appoints lay woman Prefect of Dicastery for Communication". Vatican News. June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  2. 2."A Prefect Appointed to the Dicastery for Communication". Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice. June 3, 2026. Retrieved August 3, 2026.
  3. 3.[3.2][3.3][3.4][3.5][3.6][3.7]"Montse Alvarado". Benedictine College. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3][4.4][4.5]"EWTN News President Montse Alvarado Headlines 2024 Vocations Jamboree at Mary". University of Mary. February 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2026.