A ceremony was held this morning, 31 October, at the Vatican Secretariat of State, to confer upon Paolo Ruffini the honour of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great. The presentation took place in the presence of Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.
The conferral of the honour coincides with the conclusion of Ruffini’s tenure as head of the Dicastery for Communication, a position he has held for eight years, following his appointment by Pope Francis on 5 July 2018. With his appointment, Ruffini became the first layperson to lead a Dicastery of the Roman Curia, marking a significant step in the process of renewing the structures of the Holy See.
During his tenure, he oversaw the process of coordination and integration of the various bodies and platforms of Vatican communications, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano and Vatican Media, in service of the communication mission of the universal Church.
As of tomorrow, 1 November, leadership of the Dicastery will pass to Maria Montserrat Alvarado, who was appointed Prefect by Pope Leo XIV on 2 June. Currently President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, the news division of the Eternal Word Television Network, Alvarado brings extensive experience in international media, with particular expertise in communication through television, print, radio and digital platforms.
Born in Mexico City, she held senior positions at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty from 2009 to 2023, before taking the helm of EWTN News. With her appointment, she will become the first laywoman to serve as Prefect of a Dicastery of the Roman Curia.
The handover thus marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Holy See’s communications, continuing the path of reform and renewal initiated by Pope Francis and carried forward by Pope Leo XIV.
