From communications and education to missionary outreach and evangelization, Pope Leo XIV’s activities this week underscored a consistent theme: the Church’s mission must remain centered on truth, authentic witness, and the proclamation of the Gospel.

Maria Montserrat Alvarado Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado as the next Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. The appointment will take effect on November 1.

Alvarado currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, a position she has held since 2023. In her new role, she will oversee the Holy See’s vast communications network, which includes Vatican Media, Vatican News, Vatican Radio, and other communications entities.

The Dicastery for Communication was established by Pope Francis in 2015 as part of his broader reform of the Roman Curia, consolidating the Vatican’s various media offices into a single department dedicated to the Church’s mission of evangelization through modern communications.

Pope Encourages Universities to Pursue Truth in Christ

During a meeting with university presidents from across the United States, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the vital role Catholic institutions play in forming young people not only intellectually but spiritually.

The Holy Father urged Catholic universities to demonstrate authenticity as true disciples of Christ, guiding students’ desire for knowledge toward a deeper passion for truth. He acknowledged that cultivating a love for truth is not easy and requires dedication, mentorship, and perseverance.

Pope Leo stressed that the search for truth ultimately leads beyond academic inquiry to a personal encounter with Christ, whom Christians recognize as Truth itself.

Fulton Sheen Remembered as a Missionary Witness

Pope Leo XIV also reflected on the life and legacy of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the renowned American evangelist who is scheduled to be beatified on September 24.

Addressing participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Pope praised Sheen’s decades of missionary service and his leadership as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.

Calling Archbishop Sheen a “light of faith, hope, and love,” Pope Leo highlighted the enduring impact of his preaching and missionary zeal. The Holy Father also noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Pope Pius XI’s establishment of World Mission Sunday, a day dedicated to prayer, reflection, and support for the Church’s missionary activity throughout the world.

Authentic Witness Is the Key to Evangelization

In another address this week, Pope Leo XIV warned against the temptation to make Christianity more appealing by weakening its teachings or reducing its demands.

Speaking to members of the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Pope insisted that the faith is transmitted above all through credible Christian witness. He emphasized that Christianity becomes attractive not through compromise but through the authentic example of believers whose lives have been transformed by Christ.

The Holy Father pointed to the growing crisis of faith in many Western societies, noting that religious indifference often stems from a loss of authentic witness. He encouraged Catholics to proclaim the Gospel with humility and courage, remaining faithful to Christ’s message while responding to the challenges of the modern world.

June Prayer Intention Focuses on the Value of Sports

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of June centers on the value of sports as a force for unity and peace.

In his monthly video message, the Pope observed that in a world marked by war, division, and polarization, sports remain one of the few activities capable of bringing people together across cultures, nations, and backgrounds.

He invited Catholics around the world to pray that sports may become instruments of encounter, dialogue, and peace, while promoting essential virtues such as respect, solidarity, teamwork, and personal growth.

The Pope’s intention highlights the Church’s belief that even everyday human activities can become opportunities for building fraternity and advancing the common good.