Among the global news networks stationed at the Vatican to cover the secretive conclave, one small but influential U.S. Catholic TV network from an Alabama town is making its mark through not only Catholic content but also news and politics with a conservative appeal.

Irondale

The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), a Catholic broadcaster originating from Irondale, Alabama, is capturing attention during the secretive papal conclave in Rome. Launched in 1981 by a nun in a garage, EWTN has grown into a massive media organization with numerous TV channels, a book publisher, newspaper, and radio affiliates. It has become a major presence in conservative Catholic circles and a voice in American politics, sometimes expressing criticism of the late Pope Francis. The network's conservative appeal has bolstered its influence in Trump-era politics, with former President Donald Trump frequently appearing on the network.

EWTN's president, Montse Alvarado, has stated that the network aims to serve the church and amplify the Pope's message, offering a platform for his thoughts. Despite its American roots, EWTN impacts global Catholic communities, though it remains to be seen how it might influence the selection of a new pope. The network has a notable yet smaller domestic viewership compared to mainstream networks, but its social media presence is on the rise. Recent tax filings reveal that EWTN's revenue nearly doubled to about $100 million by mid-2023, fueled by advertising, book and religious item sales, and donations.



The U.S. Catholic TV network that drew the ire of Pope Francis

As cardinals gather in Rome this week to select the next pope, global news networks covering every twist and turn will be competing against a small but influential Catholic broadcaster based in Alabama. Tonight on EWTN News Nightly, the roof of St. Peter's Basilica looks a little different today. This is the Eternal Word television network. It was launched in 1981 by a nun in a monastery's garage in the town of Irondale. It has since grown into a global media conglomerate with nearly a dozen TV channels, a book publisher, a newspaper and radio affiliates. It covers mainly topics of the Catholic ministry but also a sizable dose of news and political content. And it has emerged as a beacon for conservative Catholics and a potent voice in Trump-era politics, not to mention an occasional critic of the late Pope Francis. EWTN is part of already a decades-long process of expanding Christian media. Michelle Nickerson, an historian at the Jesuit Loyola University Chicago, says the network successfully married spiritual content and political news for conservative Catholics. I would describe EWTN as a very influential force in conservative media. It is influential on Catholics, but I would say a politicized and conservative slice of Catholicism. President Donald Trump, who stirred some controversy on Sunday by posting an AI-generated photo of himself as Pope, has appeared on the network several times. EWTN's founder Mother Angelica, who died in 2016, used her popular TV show to criticize efforts to liberalize the church. In 2021, Francis, who allowed priests to perform same-sex marriage blessings, asked the network to stop bad-mouthing him, the Jesuit magazine America reported. The president and chief operating officer of EWTN News, Montse Alvarado, said the network gave Francis a platform by broadcasting his words and letting him speak for himself. In an interview, she described EWTN as on a mission from God. I don't know that I would ever put a Catholic entity in a political box. Catholicism is much bigger. And EWTN walks with the church. Our mission is to defend the church, communicate the church, and bring the message of the Holy Father to the world. James Martin, a Jesuit priest who's also editor-at-large of America, says it's hard to tell what kind of influence the network could have on the election of the new pope. I would say they could have some impact because they're a global network, and that means many Catholics and certainly many cardinals watch. On the other hand, I think they're still perceived as a largely American network, so that might work against them. At home, the network has a narrow viewership compared to mainstream networks. For example, Comscore said more than 40,000 U.S. households watched Francis' funeral on EWTN's cable channel compared to more than one million on ABC. Though the brand has millions of followers and subscribers on its social media platforms, an area it says it's focused on growing. Since the last conclave in 2013, the nonprofit EWTN, along with its three affiliates, has almost doubled its revenue to roughly $100 million in the fiscal year ending in June 2023, according to recent tax filings. The revenue comes from advertising, sales of books and religious items, and donations.

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