AC Wimmer

AC Wimmer

AC Wimmer is founding Editor-in-Chief of CNA Deutsch. The multilingual Australian, raised in Bavaria and South Africa, held senior roles at Australia's SBS and served as editor-in-chief of the historic Münchner Kirchenzeitung. A graduate in Philosophy and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne, Anian Christoph Wimmer — Chinese name 刘威猛 — sat on the jury of the Media Award of the German Bishops’ Conference, is a former Honorary Research Fellow in Communications at the University of Melbourne and served on the Board of Caritas in Munich.

Articles by AC Wimmer

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, speaks during a press conference about a new Vatican document on human dignity on April 8, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Cardinal Fernández promises follow-up meeting after controversial absence

Oct 20, 2024 / 08:30 am

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández has reportedly apologized for what he called a “misunderstanding” regarding his absence from an Oct. 18 meeting.

The Catholic Church of the Saviour, also called Xishiku Church or Beitang, in Xicheng District, Beijing, China. Credit: Fotokon/Shutterstock

Synod, Zen, and Sinicization: Vatican’s China deal sparks tensions 

Oct 19, 2024 / 11:05 am

Cardinal Joseph Zen and George Weigel voice sharp critiques of the Synod on Synodality.

Cardinal Willem Eijk. Credit: Bohumil Petrik/CNA

Dutch cardinal advocates Christ-centered reform over controversial issues

Oct 16, 2024 / 12:20 pm

Maintain unity in the Church and focus on Christ-centered catechesis, Dutch Cardinal Willem Eijk of Utrecht warned against the backdrop of Synod on Synodality.

Catholic Cathedral St. Peter and Paul in the Diocese of Tallinn, Estonia. Credit: Kallerna/Wikimedia CC BY-SA 3.0

Catholic Church elevated in Estonia: Pope Francis creates Diocese of Tallinn

Sep 26, 2024 / 14:15 pm

The Vatican made the announcement on Sept. 26, coinciding with the start of the pope’s apostolic journey to Luxembourg and Belgium.

Father Timothy Radcliffe told the Synod on Synodality delegates that the time before the 2024 assembly “will be probably the most fertile time of the whole synod, the time of germination.” Credit: Vatican Media

Ahead of synod, prominent prelates publish on ‘LGBTQ issues’

Sep 23, 2024 / 13:25 pm

Father Timothy Radcliffe and Father James Martin weigh in on same-sex attraction before the synod.

Floods severely affected Heiligenkreuz in the Vienna Woods in Austria on Sept. 15, 2024. Credit: Leopoldinum Seminary

Deadly floods in Central Europe damage famous monasteries, seminary

Sep 18, 2024 / 11:52 am

Severe flooding across Central Europe has caused widespread damage to historic monasteries and seminaries, with over 20 deaths reported.

A worshipper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

Pope’s Asia visit draws attention to Holy See’s delicate China diplomacy

Sep 16, 2024 / 12:40 pm

As the Vatican-China deal nears renewal, Pope Francis’ Asia tour sparked debate on the future of the Holy See’s ties with Beijing and Taiwan.

Archbishop Mark O’Toole was installed as the eighth archbishop of Cardiff in St. David’s Cathedral, Cardiff, Wales, in June 2022. Credit: © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Pope Francis creates new archdiocese in Wales, appoints its first bishop

Sep 13, 2024 / 07:00 am

The Bishops’ Conference of England Wales welcomed the move on Thursday as a “new chapter for the Catholic community in South Wales and Herefordshire.”

Dublin, Ireland, on April 22, 2016. Credit: Vincent Isore/IP3/Contributor/Getty

Irish teacher jailed for third time over transgender pronoun dispute

Sep 3, 2024 / 06:46 am

The long-standing case involves over 400 days already spent in prison — and ongoing legal battles.

null Credit: Ball Lunla/Shutterstock

As EU plans new vaccine passport, Catholic experts call for pandemic response review

Aug 29, 2024 / 10:18 am

Catholic experts weigh in as a new initiative, dubbed “European Vaccination Beyond COVID-19,” aims at establishing a Europe-wide vaccination card system.

A woman kneels at a makeshift memorial of flowers and candles for the victims on Aug. 24, 2024, close to the scene where at least three people were killed and several injured when a man attacked them with a knife on Aug. 23, 2024, in Solingen, western Germany, during a festival to mark the city’s 650th anniversary. Credit: Roberto Pfeil/AFP via Getty Images

Attack in Germany: Catholic, Jewish leaders weigh in on deadly terror before key elections

Aug 27, 2024 / 11:45 am

Religious and political figures are embroiled in a debate about Europe’s hot-button issues: terrorism, mass migration, knife crime, and Islamist ideology.

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce. Credit: ADF UK

UK police pay 13,000 pounds to Christian woman arrested for silent prayer

Aug 19, 2024 / 11:19 am

The settlement comes as the U.K. government is reportedly set to strengthen its crackdown on silent prayer near abortion facilities by labeling it “criminal.”

St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand. Credit: James Dignan via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

New Zealand Church’s safeguarding efforts praised, but report highlights need for action

Aug 16, 2024 / 12:12 pm

An assessment of Catholic safeguarding protocols in New Zealand highlighted progress in many areas while also pointing to the need for further improvements.

Several mobs attacked Christian communities and set fire to several churches Aug. 16, 2023, in the town of Jaranwala, in Pakistan’s Faisalabad district, after two Christians were accused of defiling the Quran. Credit: Photo courtesy of Aid to the Church in Need International

Pakistan: One year later, Jaranwala Christians await justice

Aug 16, 2024 / 09:57 am

One year after the Jaranwala riots, Christian communities in Pakistan still face injustice and persecution under the country’s controversial blasphemy laws. 

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the relator general of the 16th Annual General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Cardinal Hollerich demands probe into multimillion-dollar Caritas scandal

Aug 14, 2024 / 12:58 pm

The archbishop of Luxembourg has called for transparency in a 61 million euro ($67.2 million) Caritas Luxembourg scandal before a visit by Pope Francis.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral | Credit Jay Miller / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Australian archbishop calls for faith protections in wake of shelved religious bill

Aug 14, 2024 / 10:32 am

“It is regrettable that such important legislation is not proceeding,” Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli said in a statement.

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, at a penance service in St. Peter's Basilica on March 29, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Cardinal Müller rejects ‘financial improprieties’ allegation

Aug 2, 2024 / 12:15 pm

Cardinal Gerhard Müller dismissed claims of mishandled funds and improper cash holdings as “cheap tabloid literature.”

The coat of arms of Austria and Vienna on the Albertine choir roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Credit: Bwag via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Priest in Austria arrested for producing crystal meth in church rectory

Jul 30, 2024 / 13:00 pm

The 38-year-old Polish cleric serving in the Diocese of St. Pölten confessed to manufacturing the drug alongside a 30-year-old Iraqi accomplice.

The Last Supper by Da Vinci. Credit: Public domain

Catholic leaders join French bishops in condemning Last Supper scene at Paris Olympics opening

Jul 27, 2024 / 13:00 pm

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has sparked global controversy among Catholic leaders for its parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.

Altar servers. Credit: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

German AfD party member challenges removal from church volunteer positions

Jul 25, 2024 / 10:51 am

The decision, supported by the Archdiocese of Paderborn, has sparked controversy and will likely lead to legal challenges.