AC Wimmer

AC Wimmer

AC Wimmer (刘威猛) is the News Editor for Europe and Asia at EWTN News. The multilingual Australian, raised in Bavaria and South Africa, served as editor-in-chief of several news media outlets. A graduate in Philosophy and Chinese Studies from the University of Melbourne, the veteran journalist is a former Honorary Research Fellow in Communications at his alma mater and served on the Board of Caritas in Munich.

Articles by AC Wimmer

The Reichstag building in Berlin, where the Bundestag meets. Credit: jan zeschky via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

German bishops distance themselves from migration statement ahead of key Parliament vote

Jan 30, 2025 / 08:45 am

The controversy has highlighted divisions within German Catholicism regarding migration policy.

An illustration of the topic of Thomas Aquinas and AI created by DALL-E, a text-to-image model native to ChatGPT. Credit: DALL-E/OpenAI

What would Thomas Aquinas make of AI?

Jan 28, 2025 / 05:00 am

According to one German theologian, the Catholic saint and doctor of the Church can contribute to contemporary discussions about AI’s risks and role in society.

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Audience Hall for his Wednesday general audience on Jan. 15, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Suffering becomes ‘occasion for transformative encounter’ with God

Jan 27, 2025 / 07:00 am

Pope Francis also addressed all those “who are ill or who care for the suffering,” telling them: “Your journey together is a sign for everyone.”

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Jan. 26, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Never forget Auschwitz horrors, Pope Francis says ahead of 80th anniversary

Jan 26, 2025 / 07:30 am

Speaking at the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and made urgent appeals for peace in Sudan and Colombia.

Pope Francis delivers his homily during the Jan. 26, 2025, Mass for Word of God Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope marks Word of God Sunday amid 2025 jubilee events: ‘God’s Word walks with us’

Jan 26, 2025 / 07:00 am

“The Word of God is alive: Through the centuries it walks with us and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is at work in history,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis presides over vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, accompanied by masters of ceremonies, marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope sees ‘providential’ moment as Catholics, Orthodox hope to celebrate Easter 2025 together

Jan 25, 2025 / 17:31 pm

Pope Francis emphasized that hope is “always possible” in Jesus Christ during an ecumenical vespers service marking the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

A participant captures Pope Francis on their phone during the Jubilee of the World of Communications event at the Paul VI Hall, Jan. 25, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

At Vatican jubilee, Pope Francis skips prepared text for heart-to-heart with journalists

Jan 25, 2025 / 07:00 am

The written remarks also warned against what the pope termed “brain rot” caused by constant social media scrolling, calling for greater media literacy.

Ulrich Wastl shows copies of the abuse report for the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone at its presentation in Bolzano, Italy, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. The 635-page document, published in both Italian and German, details investigations into abuse cases spanning from 1964 to 2023. Credit: Diocese of Bolzano/Jan Kusstatscher

New study reveals decades of abuse cases in northern Italian diocese

Jan 21, 2025 / 12:45 pm

The 635-page report examined cases from 1964 to 2023 in the northern Italian region of Alto Adige-Südtirol and identified 41 clergy members as alleged perpetrators.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks on stage to deliver the keynote address at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 22, 2024. in Washington, D.C. Credit: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Pope Francis invokes blessings on U.S. as Trump begins presidency

Jan 20, 2025 / 06:29 am

Pope Francis invoked “an abundance of divine blessings” upon Donald Trump, his family, and “the beloved American people.”

Pope Francis addresses pilgrims gathered for Mass on the solemnity of the Epiphany on Jan. 6, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Pope Francis calls potential U.S. deportation plans ‘a disgrace’

Jan 19, 2025 / 22:26 pm

“If this is true it is a disgrace because it makes the poor unfortunate who have nothing pay the price of imbalance. This is not how things are solved,” the pope said on Italian TV.

Pope Francis greets new Swiss Guards as they prepare to be sworn in on May 6, 2024, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope highlights Swiss Guard’s jubilee year service to pilgrims

Jan 18, 2025 / 09:00 am

As millions of pilgrims are expected for the jubilee year in Rome, Pope Francis praised the patient service of the Swiss Guard and support for their families.

Abbé Pierre, born Henri Marie Joseph Grouès in 1912, was a prominent French Catholic priest. He died in 2007. Allegations of sexual abuse were first publicly reported in 2024. Credit: Studio Harcourt Paris/Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0)

French bishops request criminal probe into abuse claims against Abbé Pierre

Jan 18, 2025 / 08:00 am

French bishops request criminal investigation into abuse allegations against Emmaus founder Abbé Pierre following nine new testimonies against the late priest.

The Vatican on Jan. 10, 2024, announced the confirmation of the election of a new head of the Syro-Malabar Church, the largest Eastern Catholic church in India, Bishop Raphael Thattil. Credit: Jpullokaran, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

India’s Syro-Malabar Church reshuffles leadership amid liturgical row

Jan 11, 2025 / 20:05 pm

The appointment, confirmed by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil on Jan. 11, follows the First Session of the XXXIII Synod of Bishops Jan. 6–11.

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address via a video livestream from his Casa Santa Marta residence within the Vatican due to a cold on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis makes surprise stop at foundation supporting global charitable projects

Jan 11, 2025 / 16:17 pm

Founded on principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, Fondazione Roma is a cornerstone of Italy’s philanthropic landscape.

Pope Francis greets pilgrims from his wheelchair during the Saturday jubilee audience in the Vatican’s audience hall, Jan. 11, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis welcomes jubilee pilgrims: ‘Begin again with hope’

Jan 11, 2025 / 07:15 am

The virtue of hope holds a divine strength: In his first Saturday Jubilee 2025 audience, Pope Francis reflected on hope through the lens of St. John the Baptist.

Pope Francis prays during Mass on the solemnity of the Epiphany on Jan. 6, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis sends prayers, condolences as Los Angeles battles wildfires

Jan 11, 2025 / 06:15 am

As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles neighborhoods, Pope Francis expressed his spiritual closeness to those affected by the tragedy.

Pope Francis on Jan. 6, 2025, appointed Father George Kolodziej, SDS, a Polish-born priest with extensive pastoral and counseling experience, as the new bishop of Bunbury, Western Australia. Credit: Diocese of Bunbury, Western Australia

Pope Francis names Polish priest as new bishop for Western Australia diocese

Jan 6, 2025 / 10:15 am

The Perth-based priest brings decades of parish ministry and psychotherapy experience to his new role leading a diocese 1.5 times larger than England.

During his audience with Italian Catholic educators, Pope Francis interacts with a young girl at the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican on Jan. 4, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Bullying in schools ‘prepares for war, not peace,’ Pope Francis tells Catholic educators

Jan 4, 2025 / 08:58 am

The pontiff repeatedly emphasized his message against bullying, having participants pledge “No bullying!” during the audience.

Pope Francis shares a joyful moment with members of the Union of St. Catherine of Siena Missionary Teachers during an audience in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Jan. 4, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis to teaching sisters: Leave ‘vinegar faces’ behind, embrace joy

Jan 4, 2025 / 07:00 am

“Many times in my life I have encountered nuns with a vinegar face, and this is not friendly, this is not something that helps to attract people,” the pope said.

A Sister of the Missionaries of Charity touches the bronze Holy Door at the papal basilica during its opening for the 2025 Jubilee Year. The religious sister, wearing the distinctive white and blue habit of the order founded by Mother Teresa, joins other faithful in this traditional gesture of devotion as they pass through the ceremonial door on Jan. 1, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

PHOTOS: Holy Door opens at Rome’s Marian marvel as new cardinal highlights hope at St. Mary Major

Jan 1, 2025 / 16:17 pm

The distinctive dong of an ancient bell accompanied the opening of the Holy Door at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major on Jan. 1.