American Greg Burke

Pope Francis on Monday named a former Fox News correspondent to head up the Vatican press office and appointed the tiny state's first-ever female deputy spokesperson.

The Vatican, stung by communications blunders and mired in a leaks scandal, has hired an American journalist from Fox News and member of the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei to help improve its relations with the media. The TV journalist, Greg Burke, and the Vatican on Saturday confirmed what a senior Church source had earlier told Reuters.

Pope Francis on Monday named a former Fox News correspondent to head up the Vatican press office and appointed the tiny state's first-ever female deputy spokesperson.

The Vatican, stung by communications blunders and mired in a leaks scandal, has hired an American journalist from Fox News and member of the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei to help improve its relations with the media. The TV journalist, Greg Burke, and the Vatican on Saturday confirmed what a senior Church source had earlier told Reuters.