From "The Work of the Devil" to the Vatican's Voice: Pope Leo's Extraordinary EWTN Appointment

The appointment of Maria Alvarado marks a stunning reversal of fortune for EWTN, raises questions about the future of Vatican Communications & may signal a deeper transformation within the Roman Curia

The appointment of Maria Montserrat Alvarado as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication could potentially be one of the most revealing decisions of Pope Leo XIV’s young pontificate so far. At first glance, the headlines have focused on the obvious historic milestone. Alvarado will become the first laywoman to lead a dicastery of the Roman Curia. Yet in Rome, as so often happens, the real story lies beneath the official announcement.

The significance of the appointment is not simply who Alvarado is, but where she comes from. For more than a decade, EWTN occupied a peculiar place within the life of the Church. It was simultaneously the largest Catholic media organisation in the world and, in the eyes of many within the Vatican establishment, an awkward and often unwelcome critic. During the pontificate of Pope Francis, tensions between the network and elements of the Curia became increasingly visible. EWTN’s coverage of issues ranging from the Synod on Synodality to Fiducia Supplicans, from the handling of abuse scandals to liturgical restrictions, frequently reflected concerns shared by millions of ordinary Catholics but regarded by some Vatican officials as manifestations of organised opposition.

The tension reached its most public expression when Pope Francis himself criticised EWTN and suggested that its persistent questioning of aspects of his pontificate was spiritually harmful. The symbolism was unmistakable. Here was the most influential Catholic broadcaster in the world finding itself regarded with suspicion by those charged with governing the universal Church.

Against that backdrop, the appointment of EWTN News President Maria Montserrat Alvarado to lead the Vatican’s entire communications apparatus represents a remarkable reversal of fortunes.