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

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‘The Work,’ a community with a focus on eucharistic adoration, receives final approval from Vatican

Aug 7, 2023 / 08:45 am

This significant endorsement, announced on the feast of the apostle James on July 25, underscores the growing influence of The Work.

null Credit: ACN

As World Youth Day kicks off, ACN champions cause of persecuted Christians worldwide

Aug 1, 2023 / 11:00 am

The aim is to encourage pilgrims and participants to actively support the suffering Church in their own countries.

Birgit Mock, a vice president of the ZdK, on July 31, 2023, attacked Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne for admonishing a priest his statements against blessing same-sex unions. Synodaler Weg / Maximilian von Lachner

German cardinal under fire for admonishing priest over same-sex blessings

Aug 1, 2023 / 09:15 am

A German cardinal was publicly criticized by the powerful Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) on Monday.

The agreement between the German Reich and the Holy See in Rome was signed on July 20, 1933. Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-R24391|Wikipedia|CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Hitler, the Holy See, and a historic treaty: The Reichskonkordat at 90

Jul 20, 2023 / 09:20 am

On July 20, the Church marks the 90th anniversary of a deal made in Rome between Hitler’s Germany and the Holy See: the Reichskonkordat.

Cardinal Blase Cupich. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Cupich on German processes, same-sex blessings, role of women

Jul 14, 2023 / 10:35 am

The archbishop of Chicago spoke about the Germany Synodal Way and blessing of same-sex unions as well as the pontificate of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx meets with a delegation from the Italian village of Filetto di Camarda in his residence in Munich on July 9, 2023. Credit: EOM/Robert Kiderle

Cardinal Marx apologizes for later bishop’s role in WWII massacre

Jul 10, 2023 / 13:45 pm

Before he ascended to the rank of auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising in 1968, Matthias Defregger wore a different uniform.

People look at burning tyres blocking a street in Bordeaux in south-western France on June 29, 2023, during riots and incidents nationwide after the killing of a 17-year-old boy by a police officer's gunshot following a refusal to comply in a western suburb of Paris. Philippe Lopez/AFP via Getty Images

Unrest in France: Religious leaders call for dialogue and calm

Jul 3, 2023 / 15:13 pm

The French bishops also have proposed a prayer for the restoration of peace in the country.

Father Martin Lintner, OSM, teaches at the Philosophical-Theological College in Brixen (PTH Brixen). Screenshot of Cultural Center Gustav Mahler & Guesthouse YouTube video

Rejected dean: Vatican veto questions synodality

Jul 3, 2023 / 09:27 am

The professor rejected by the Vatican for the role of dean at a seminary in South Tyrol, Italy, has publicly denounced the decision. 

The Catholic Cathedral of Limburg in Hesse, Germany. Mylius via Wikimedia (GFDL 1.2).

German exodus: Half a million Catholics abandon Church in historic departure

Jun 28, 2023 / 08:22 am

With the highest number of departures ever recorded, several German bishops have expressed dismay over the figures.

Philosophical-Theological University of Bressanone in Italy. Credit: Ladislav Luppa / Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Views on sexual morality halt appointment of new dean at Italian seminary

Jun 27, 2023 / 09:30 am

The writings of Father Martin M. Lintner, OSM, have stirred controversy within Church circles.

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne. Credit: www.ewtn.de. null

German cardinal under investigation: Allegations of perjury prompt search of archdiocese

Jun 27, 2023 / 06:42 am

The allegations revolve around the accusation that Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki may have provided false testimony about his awareness of clergy abuse.

Bishop Gebhard Fürst blesses the bell from St. Albertus Magnus in Oberesslingen in front of the church in Żegoty (Siegfriedswalde), Germany, which has now returned to its homeland of Poland. Credit: Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart/Arkadius Guzy

Ringing in a new era: the historic return of Nazi-plundered bells to Poland

Jun 26, 2023 / 10:00 am

Over the weekend, a German bishop and a state premier participated in an initiative to bring bells stolen by the Nazis to their rightful homes in Poland.

Pope Benedict XVI at the World Family Meeting in Milan with Cardinal Angelo Scola on June 4, 2012. Credit: CNA/World Meeting of Families 2012

Pectoral cross of Benedict XVI stolen from Bavarian church

Jun 20, 2023 / 12:30 pm

A pectoral cross bequeathed by the late Pope Benedict XVI to a parish in his native Bavaria has been stolen from the church where it was on display.

The third Synodal Assembly of the ‘Synodal Way’ in Frankfurt, Germany, on Feb. 4, 2022. Max von Lachner/Synodal Way.

Four German bishops block funding for permanent synodal council 

Jun 20, 2023 / 07:00 am

In a statement, the bishops said the controversial initiative goes against “the clear instruction of the pope” and would cause “even greater polarization.”

St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin, Germany. Cedric BLN via Wikimedia (Public domain).

German Synodal Council challenged ahead of key Berlin meeting

Jun 19, 2023 / 16:40 pm

A prelate in the Diocese of Regensburg said the concept of synodality underlying the Synodal Way isn’t in line with canon law or the Pope Francis’ ideas.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Vatican: Gänswein to return to home diocese in July

Jun 15, 2023 / 04:31 am

Pope Francis has asked Archbishop Georg Gänswein to return to Germany “for the time being.”

Archbishop Georg Gänswein was the personal secretary of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Credit: ACI Press

Report: Gänswein ordered to leave Vatican, return to home diocese without new role

Jun 2, 2023 / 06:34 am

According to a German media report, Pope Francis is following a custom where former private secretaries of deceased popes do not remain in Rome.

Heidi Crowter speaks outside the High Court in London England, July 6, 2021. Don’t Screen Us Out via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0).

Woman with Down syndrome sues over abortion law at European Court of Human Rights

May 20, 2023 / 06:00 am

Heidi Crowter announced her decision to appeal to the ECHR this week after England’s Supreme Court refused to hear her case.

Archbishop Arthur Roche at a Vatican press conference on Feb. 10, 2015. Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

Vatican’s liturgy czar rejects German Church’s plans for laity to preach homilies, conduct baptisms

Mar 30, 2023 / 13:30 pm

Cardinal Arthur Roche also said allowing laypeople to regularly perform baptisms goes against canon law.

Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of the Diocese of Osnabrück served as vice president of the German bishops' conference from 2017 to 2023. Courtesy of Synodaler Weg/Maximilian von Lachner

Pope Francis accepts resignation of vice president of German bishops’ conference 

Mar 25, 2023 / 08:56 am

Bishop Franz-Josef Bode had previously refused to step down despite an abuse report finding he had mishandled cases in his diocese.