Pope names first lay woman to head Vatican department

Pope Leo XIV connected Tuesday (June 2, 2026) named a Mexico-born quality enforcement to caput up the Vatican's almighty communications section — the archetypal laic pistillate to clasp a station successful the Roman Curia.

Maria Montserrat Alvarado, presently president of the Catholic media outlet EWTN News, volition instrumentality up her station connected November 1, the Vatican said successful a statement. She was calved successful Mexico City and studied successful the United States.

Vatican News said the assignment was "continuing the way of betterment and renewal initiated by Pope Francis", Pope Leo's predecessor.

"Alvarado is the archetypal non-religious pistillate to beryllium appointed prefect of a dicastery of the Holy See," the Vatican quality work study said.

The Dicastery for Communication oversees the Vatican's immense print, vigor and tv services, which broadcast to a planetary audience.

It besides runs the Vatican property office. In the months earlier helium died connected April 21 past year, Francis named 2 nuns to cardinal Vatican positions and criticised a "chauvinistic mentality" wrong the Catholic Church.

Sister Raffaella Petrini became president of the governorate of the Vatican City state, and Sister Simona Brambilla was named caput of the Vatican section overseeing the world's Catholic spiritual orders and congregations.