For the first time in the administrative structure of the Roman Catholic Church, a secular (non-nun) woman has been appointed to a high-ranking leadership position.
Modern.az reports that Maria Monserrat Alvarado, who currently heads the EWTN News Catholic media organization based in the US, will become the head of the Vatican's Communications Department. This p, created in 2015 by the late Pope Francis, is responsible for the Vatican's news website, radio station, newspaper, press office, publishing house, and film archive.
Alvarado, born in Mexico City and a US citizen since 2008, will begin her duties on November 1. She will replace the retiring Paolo Ruffini. This was stated in the Vatican's announcement.
Nuns and other secular women have previously held influential positions within the Roman Curia. However, Alvarado has made history as “the first non-nun woman to be appointed prefect of a dicastery of the Holy See.”
In a statement, Alvarado said that this appointment was unexpected for her. She said she accepted it “with a sincere desire to serve His Holiness the Pope at the beginning of his pontificate.”
This appointment is seen as a continuation of the course initiated by the late Pope Francis. During his 12-year pontificate, he expanded the participation of women in the administration of the Vatican and appointed them to high positions.
In the months before his death, Francis appointed two nuns — Raffaella Petrini and Simona Brambilla — to leadership positions, while also criticizing the “chauvinistic mindset” existing within the Catholic Church.
Alvarado previously worked as a news anchor at EWTN and has served as president and chief operating officer of the media network since 2023. Pope Francis had previously criticized this media network because some of its programs expressed critical views regarding Francis's pontificate.
