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

The Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas in Nottingham, England, U.K. Kevin George/Shutterstock

Gothic Revival reborn: Nottingham Cathedral receives grant to ‘Restore Pugin’

Oct 3, 2022 / 14:01 pm

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin’s design of St. Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham, England, is to be restored and brought back to life.

Tom Mortier ADF International

Europe’s top human rights court to rule on landmark euthanasia case

Oct 3, 2022 / 06:30 am

The European Court of Human Rights is set to rule in a landmark case on Tuesday on whether Belgium wrongly allowed a woman to be euthanized. 

Pope Francis Vatican Media

Pope Francis recognizes the ‘countless acts of kindess and charity’ of Stella Maris, Apostleship of the Sea

Oct 3, 2022 / 04:50 am

Pope Francis has recognized the role of Stella Maris, the Apostleship of the Sea — the largest ship-visiting network in the world.

Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Sept. 28, 2022 Pablo Esparza / CNA

Let your beauty shine, Pope Francis tells young people

Sep 30, 2022 / 09:00 am

Pope Francis on Friday told young people to let their true beauty shine, the beauty that is a reflection of divine beauty. 

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in Rome on Oct. 23, 2019. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA. null

Vatican cardinal says he did not compare German Synodal Way to Nazi ideology

Sep 29, 2022 / 22:07 pm

A Vatican cardinal has defended himself against the accusation by the president of the German bishops’ conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, of making a “totally unacceptable gaffe” over remarks regarding the German Synodal Way.

St. Michael the Archangel Credit: Pixabay

Supporters of statue of St. Michael the Archangel in small French town vow to fight removal order

Sep 29, 2022 / 01:30 am

After a French court confirmed the removal of a statue of St. Michael from a seaside town, supporters have vowed to continue their fight.

Bishop Georg Bätzing Photo credit: Synodaler Weg / Maximilian von Lachner

Religion is ‘interruption,’ not continuity, German bishops’ president says

Sep 27, 2022 / 12:33 pm

Bishop Georg Bätzing spoke in a live-streamed Mass on Tuesday on the occasion of the bishops’ plenary assembly in Dulda, Germany, Sept. 26–29.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral in Broome, Australia. null

Vatican opens canonical investigation into Australian bishop

Sep 26, 2022 / 07:05 am

The Vatican has appointed Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane to oversee an investigation into former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders.

null Syda Productions/Shutterstock

Bishops in Belgium defy Vatican, publish ceremony for blessing same-sex unions

Sep 20, 2022 / 06:27 am

In open defiance of the Vatican, Catholic bishops in Belgium on Tuesday announced the introduction of blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. 

King Charles III walks alongside the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top as it departs Westminster Abbey during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 19, 2022, in London. Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Catholic prayers for Queen Elizabeth II — and the new king

Sep 19, 2022 / 07:24 am

While millions bid final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II today, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales have commented on the death of Her Majesty.

Pope Francis speaking at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan, Sept. 13–15, 2022. Vatican Media

A ‘supermarket of religions,’ God’s will, and the wisdom of a tweaked declaration

Sep 16, 2022 / 07:52 am

A sensitive passage in the final declaration of the congress that brought Pope Francis to Kazakhstan Sept. 13–15 appears to have been changed after it found the approval of attendants.

The European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium. Ala z via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).

European Parliament condemns growing repression of Catholic Church in Nicaragua, calls for release of bishop

Sep 16, 2022 / 05:08 am

The resolution, passed Sept. 15, criticized the arbitrary “arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez” and called “for his and others’ immediate and unconditional release.”

Bishop Georg Bätzing, Irme Stetter-Karp, Bischop Franz-Josef Bode at the “Synodal Way” meeting on Sept. 9 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany. Synodaler Weg / Maximilian von Lachner

Turbulent scenes and votes for homosexuality, women’s ordination at German Synodal Way

Sep 12, 2022 / 10:00 am

The three-day event was overshadowed by turbulent scenes and early departures over the handling of contentious issues.

The cross of the German “Synodal Way” Maximilian von Lachner / Synodaler Weg

Synodal Way votes to establish permanent Synodal Council to oversee Church and dioceses in Germany

Sep 10, 2022 / 21:28 pm

In a move aimed at achieving what critics have compared to communist councils in the Soviet Union, participants of the German Synodal Way on Saturday voted to create a Synodal Council. 

Bishop Georg Bätzing watches ZdK president Irme Stetter-Karp speak at the Synodal Way assembly in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept 8. 2022 Synodaler Weg / Maximilian von Lachner

After sex document at German Synodal Way is blocked, organizers vow to ‘take it to’ Rome

Sep 9, 2022 / 09:02 am

The document pushed for changes to the Church’s teaching on homosexuality, bisexuality, gender identity, and masturbation.

Pope Francis meeting his diplomatic representatives in the Vatican, Sept. 9, 2022. Vatican Media

Pope Francis shares his concern about nuclear war risks in meeting with Vatican diplomats

Sep 8, 2022 / 11:00 am

The pope spoke to almost 100 apostolic nuncios and permanent observers of the Holy See who are meeting in Rome this week. 

A meeting of the "Synodal Way" in Frankfurt, Germany in February, 2022. Synodaler Weg/Max von Lachner

Will the German ‘Synodal Way’ lead to a permanent ‘Synodal Council’?

Sep 7, 2022 / 06:31 am

Shortly before the next assembly of the German “Synodal Way,” one of the founders confirmed the goal of establishing a permanent “Synodal Council.” 

Visitors attend mass in the Vitus Church in Hilversum, Netherlands, on Oct. 11, 2020. Photo by JEROEN JUMELET/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Dutch diocese abandons rule to offer Mass in every parish on Sundays

Sep 6, 2022 / 10:00 am

Due to a shortage of priests and to save on energy costs, the Diocese of Roermond in the Netherlands said it was abandoning its previous rule.

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer speaks at a press conference on June 22, 2020. Diocese of Regensburg.

German bishop: Evangelizing secular society requires sharing ‘the reasonableness of faith’

Sep 5, 2022 / 07:18 am

The director of Benedict XVI Institute says a “healthy defense of the faith” is necessary if Catholics are to credibly spread the Gospel.

Pavica Vojnović (right) and Lidia Rieder outside the Mannheim court. ADF International

German court rules in favor of right to pray near abortion counseling facility

Sep 1, 2022 / 03:50 am

Silent prayer gatherings near an abortion counseling facility in a German town cannot be prohibited, according to a ruling by the Mannheim Administrative Court.