Articles by AC Wimmer
Pope Francis accepts resignation of vice president of German bishops’ conference
Mar 25, 2023 / 08:56 amBishop Franz-Josef Bode had previously refused to step down despite an abuse report finding he had mishandled cases in his diocese.
Prosecutors drop case of alleged ‘cover up’ against Benedict XVI
Mar 22, 2023 / 16:30 pmA potential legal case against Pope Benedict XVI over his handling of abuse during his time as archbishop of Munich has been dropped.
Gänswein to Costa Rica? Report of Benedict’s secretary becoming nuncio is ‘speculation,’ Vatican sources say
Mar 22, 2023 / 08:36 amThe future role of Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Benedict XVI’s longtime private secretary, remains unclear.
German bishops announce plans to bless same-sex unions, allow laypeople to baptize and preach at Mass
Mar 17, 2023 / 08:53 amFollowing the conclusion of the German Synodal Way, several bishops have announced plans to put into practice resolutions passed by the process.
Despite ‘no’ from Vatican, German bishops moves forward with plans for synodal council
Mar 1, 2023 / 14:45 pmA letter by the president of the German Bishops’ Conference published Wednesday confirms that plans for a German synodal council are progressing.
Four women opt out of German Synodal Way, saying it ‘departs from the universal Church’
Feb 22, 2023 / 08:30 amAhead of the German Synodal Way’s final meeting next month, four prominent participants officially announced Wednesday they were quitting the process.
Watchdog raises concerns after arson attacks on German, French churches
Feb 21, 2023 / 07:48 amFollowing an arson attack on a historic church in Germany, a European watchdog has raised concerns over hate crimes targeting Christian churches.
‘We need time,’ Synod on Synodality organizers tell German-language media
Feb 14, 2023 / 07:40 amCardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg and Maltese Cardinal Mario Grech made their remarks in the wake of the recent European Continental Assembly in Prague.
‘All glory to God’: Chiefs’ Butker makes game-winning kick in the Super Bowl while wearing scapular
Feb 13, 2023 / 11:07 amThe 27-year-old kicker is outspoken about his Catholic faith, and many on social media were quick to point out that he was wearing a brown scapular.
Pope Francis, Syriac Patriarch call for prayers after devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
Feb 6, 2023 / 09:23 amThe series of earthquakes — up to 7.8 magnitude — killed an estimated 1,700 people and injured thousands more, with many people still trapped under the rubble Monday.
German bishops’ president rebukes Pope Francis for criticism of Synodal Way
Jan 30, 2023 / 11:45 amBishop Georg Bätzing says the Germans have “fundamentally different views of synodality” than Rome.
Letter from Benedict XVI reveals the ‘central motive’ for his resignation, biographer says
Jan 29, 2023 / 07:15 amBenedict XVI said he had suffered from chronic insomnia since the early days of his pontificate, according to a letter he wrote to his biographer.
Pope Francis decries German Synodal Way as ‘neither helpful nor serious’
Jan 25, 2023 / 15:41 pmIn an interview published Wednesday, Pope Francis decried the German Synodal Way as elitist and running the risk of bringing ideological harm to Church processes.
Pope Francis: ‘I had nothing to do’ with Father Marko Rupnik case
Jan 25, 2023 / 11:16 amFor the first time, Pope Francis has commented publicly about the scandal surrounding Jesuit artist Father Marko Rupnik.
‘I lost a dad’: Pope Francis speaks about losing Benedict XVI
Jan 25, 2023 / 08:50 amIn an interview with the AP, Pope Francis spoke about his relationship with his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
German bishop dismisses Vatican concerns over a permanent synodal council
Jan 23, 2023 / 15:45 pmOn Monday, Bishop Georg Bätzing said he welcomed a new letter from the Vatican detailing concerns about the push for a permanent synodal council.
Meet the ‘Benedict Bears’: Cuddly companions commemorate the late pope emeritus
Jan 20, 2023 / 09:15 amA traditional toy manufacturer in the Bavarian town of Coburg has produced two limited editions of its iconic teddy bears in honor of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
In new book, the late Benedict XVI defends Christianity against claims of intolerance
Jan 19, 2023 / 08:40 amIn the book, the late pontiff warns of a “radical manipulation of human beings” and “the distortion of the sexes by gender ideology” in the name of tolerance.
Cardinal Schönborn calls Gänswein book ‘unseemly indiscretion,’ confirms key detail of Benedict papacy
Jan 18, 2023 / 08:00 amAustrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn on Wednesday confirmed he was the person who encouraged Joseph Ratzinger to accept the conclave’s decision.
Church in Australia reacts with ‘shock,’ sadness at news of Cardinal Pell’s death
Jan 10, 2023 / 18:17 pmCardinal George Pell, prefect emeritus of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, died Tuesday in Rome at the age of 81 from cardiac arrest.