Montse's conclave coverage with Matthew Bunson and Monsignor Landry was great. She came across so well as someone who knew her stuff and also loved the Church.
With Pope Francis’ re-shuffling of the Roman Curia, he eliminated any distinctions in nomenclature. There used to be Congregations, Pontifical Councils, Secretariats, Institutes, Offices, etc. Congregations had Prefects, Pontifical Councils had Presidents and so on. Now, everything is called by the generic term “dicastery” and the head of it is a Prefect.
Montse Alvarado will be the new Director of the Holy See’s Office of Communications. May she serve the Holy Father and the Church well!
It seems to me that there is a world of difference between the Dicastery for Communications and, for example, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. They are both called dicasteries, but they are very different. The Dicastery for Communications isn't doing magisterial stuff. It's basically the communications office. I have to imagine plenty of dioceses have women as their directors of communications, and it seems to me that the only difference here is that the Vatican gives that job a much fancier (and unfortunately confusing) title. I actually think there are good arguments to be made that a layperson - whether male or female - is a better choice for a communications director than a clergyman would be.
Yes, there is something to that. Strange just how much confusion and blurring crept into the Vatican in the last decade.
It might behoove the Holy Father to tease apart these organs of the Church, and clarify which exercise magisterial authority and which are mere administrative appendages.
A parallel that comes to mind: Fox News journalist Greg Burke joined the Vatican communications team in Pope Benedict's last years, then seemed to progress at the Holy See Press Office under Francis. Something then stalled in the years preceding Burke's resignation -- wasn't the conventional wisdom that he was being marginalized from relevant decisions and information?
"...Msgr. Dario Viganò, who resigned in disgrace amid a scandal caused by his release of a digitally doctored image purporting to show a letter from then-pope emeritus Benedict XVI."
I know that was the guy before the outgoing guy, but that is a WILD sentence to read. Less than a decade ago they were just making things up about what Benedict had said, while Benedict was still alive!
It's possible Montse was doing more good for EWTN than we know and her departure will weaken the organization. It's not an easy job! Though there are many good people serving there, some departments have certainly had some rough times, and plenty of EWTN personalities have gone wacky over the decades.
Montse's conclave coverage with Matthew Bunson and Monsignor Landry was great. She came across so well as someone who knew her stuff and also loved the Church.
Yes! I watched their live coverage on Youtube as well. She is a very impressive professional and faithful Catholic woman. This news is fantastic!
I knew Montse while she was at Becket. An incredibly competent, faithful woman. Very positive sign that someone in her mold is being elevated.
I still don’t fully comprehend what it means for lay women to lead dicasteries, though.
With Pope Francis’ re-shuffling of the Roman Curia, he eliminated any distinctions in nomenclature. There used to be Congregations, Pontifical Councils, Secretariats, Institutes, Offices, etc. Congregations had Prefects, Pontifical Councils had Presidents and so on. Now, everything is called by the generic term “dicastery” and the head of it is a Prefect.
Montse Alvarado will be the new Director of the Holy See’s Office of Communications. May she serve the Holy Father and the Church well!
It seems to me that there is a world of difference between the Dicastery for Communications and, for example, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. They are both called dicasteries, but they are very different. The Dicastery for Communications isn't doing magisterial stuff. It's basically the communications office. I have to imagine plenty of dioceses have women as their directors of communications, and it seems to me that the only difference here is that the Vatican gives that job a much fancier (and unfortunately confusing) title. I actually think there are good arguments to be made that a layperson - whether male or female - is a better choice for a communications director than a clergyman would be.
Yes, there is something to that. Strange just how much confusion and blurring crept into the Vatican in the last decade.
It might behoove the Holy Father to tease apart these organs of the Church, and clarify which exercise magisterial authority and which are mere administrative appendages.
I agree. It would be good to undo the renaming of everything as a dicastery and everyone as a prefect.
A parallel that comes to mind: Fox News journalist Greg Burke joined the Vatican communications team in Pope Benedict's last years, then seemed to progress at the Holy See Press Office under Francis. Something then stalled in the years preceding Burke's resignation -- wasn't the conventional wisdom that he was being marginalized from relevant decisions and information?
Welcome, and good riddance.
"...Msgr. Dario Viganò, who resigned in disgrace amid a scandal caused by his release of a digitally doctored image purporting to show a letter from then-pope emeritus Benedict XVI."
I know that was the guy before the outgoing guy, but that is a WILD sentence to read. Less than a decade ago they were just making things up about what Benedict had said, while Benedict was still alive!
If anyone doubts Pope Leo's political aptitude, this should lay that to rest. In one move, Leo has:
1) thrown red meat to conservative American Catholics, his biggest potential critics
2) thrown red meat to progressive Catholics, by appointing a laywoman (!) to head a dicastery
3) cemented and improved his relationship with EWTN as an organization
4) appointed a highly competent individual to head a dicastery widely seen as a dumpster fire
5) peeled off another layer from the festering molt of Rupnik
It's possible Montse was doing more good for EWTN than we know and her departure will weaken the organization. It's not an easy job! Though there are many good people serving there, some departments have certainly had some rough times, and plenty of EWTN personalities have gone wacky over the decades.
There’s a little bit for both sides in this appointment. His Holiness, yet again, demonstrates his masterful ability to defuse.
That's awesome!
This appointment makes me so happy. Best wishes to Montse and prayers for her effective leadership in Rome. Thank you, Pope Leo!