Maria Montserrat Alvarado, also known as "Montse", is the new prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication. Leo XIV has appointed a woman to oversee the Holy See's communications arm: she is the first non-consecrated woman to head a Vatican dicastery, and the second in the history of the Roman Curia, following Sister Simona Brambilla. Originally from Mexico City, she is a 40-year-old lay journalist and manager who has held a US passport since 2008. She holds degrees from Florida International University and George Washington University. From 2009 to 2023, she held senior positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Since then, she has been president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, the news division of the Eternal Word Television Network. She manages international media platforms that produce content in seven languages across television, print, radio, digital, and social media. As per Francis's reform, the Dicastery is responsible for the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican Publishing House, the Vatican Printing House, the Vatican Film Library, Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L'Osservatore Romano, and Vatican Media (photographic, audio, and video services). The measure's effective date is November 1, 2026. Until then, the Dicastery will be led by Paolo Ruffini, who will be 70 next October. With this appointment, Pope Leo XIV follows Pope Francis' reform of the Roman Curia, which has seen lay Catholics take up leadership roles.