Is she ultraconservative and opposed to Francis? Who is Montserrat Alvarado, the Vatican’s new prefect of Communication?

At 39, María Montserrat Alvarado has become one of the most talked-about appointments of the pontificate of Leo XIV. While some progressive media outlets portray her as an “ultraconservative” figure critical of Francis because of her career at the helm of EWTN News, others highlight precisely what explains her rise: solid experience in defending religious freedom, an extensive track record managing international Catholic media, and a reputation built over the years in some of the most influential institutions of American Catholicism. Mexican by birth, American by adoption and future prefect of the Dicastery for Communication as of next November 1, Alvarado arrives at the Vatican with the challenge of coordinating the entire communications structure of the Holy See to lead one of the most strategic areas of the Roman Curia. A career built on defending religious freedom Born in Mexico City, Alvarado studied at Florida International University and George Washington University. For more …