Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement June 2 welcoming Pope Leo XIV's appointment of Maria Montserrat Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication and praising her experience as a Catholic journalist and religious liberty advocate.
"It was with gratitude that I learned of Montse's appointment as the next prefect of the Holy See's Dicastery for Communication," Archbishop Coakley said in a statement released by the bishops' conference.
Archbishop Coakley said Alvarado's work as a Catholic journalist and her advocacy at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty prepared her for the role.
"We are grateful for her work as a Catholic journalist, faithfully covering the work of the bishops, and also for her advocacy and dedication to upholding religious freedom and human dignity at the Becket Fund," he said.
Alvarado was appointed by Pope Leo earlier June 2 to lead the Vatican office responsible for overseeing the Holy See's media and communications operations, as Zeale News reported.
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Archbishop Coakley said the U.S. bishops would be praying for Alvarado as she begins her new role.
"On behalf of the Conference,” he said, “I assure her of our prayers as she continues to serve the universal Church with her unique talents.”