This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss EWTN News President and COO Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican’s dicastery for communications. They unpack some of the challenges currently facing the dicastery and analyze the appointment in light of the Vatican’s previously strained relationship with EWTN. In the second half of the show, Gerry gives a preview of Pope Leo’s trip to Spain next week.
0:00 Intro
0:48 The dicastery for communications’ challenges
3:32 Montse Alvarado’s appointment and experience
6:38 First lay woman to head a Vatican dicastery
11:08 Significance of an American as head of communications
13:49 Alvarado steered EWTN away from conflict with Francis
17:19 Pope Leo’s vision for communications
21:38 Pope Leo to address Spanish parliament in Madrid
24:29 Pope Leo’s visit to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
26:20 Pope Leo to highlight migration in Canary Islands
28:04 Other possible events for pope’s Spain trip
31:34 Outro and credits
Links:
Pope Leo appoints president of EWTN News as head of Vatican communications
Pope Francis responds to attacks from EWTN, other church critics: ‘They are the work of the devil.’
Explainer: The story behind Pope Francis’ beef with EWTN
Pope Leo’s trip to Spain: Background on Sagrada Familia, migrant advocacy and a changing Catholic landscape
Bad Bunny wants to meet Pope Leo XIV. In Madrid, a crossover event is in the works.
Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome
Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle
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