The Pope appoints the first woman to lead Vatican communications from the network that clashed most with Francis
The Vatican media will have a new head. Or rather, a new female head. Her name is Montserrat Alvarado, Mexican by birth and American by adoption, and she will be the new prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, starting November 1. For the first time, a woman will lead the media galaxy of the Holy See. Additionally, she will be the first layperson chosen to hold the position of prefect alone. Alvarado will be in charge of one of the largest Vatican “ministries,” which oversees Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican Media, the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican Publishing House, the Vatican Printing House, and the Vatican Film Library.