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AC Wimmer

AC Wimmer

AC Wimmer 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.

Pope Francis arrives in East Timor on Sept. 9, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Pope Francis’ 2024 Travels: Historic Visits to Southeast Asia, Oceania, Belgium, and Corsica

Despite health challenges, Pope Francis embarked on ambitious travels in 2024, visiting Southeast Asia and Oceania, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Corsica.

Pope Francis and Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. / Credit: Mazur/cbcew.org.uk/Олександр Гаврик via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Will Pope Francis Visit Ukraine in 2025?

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said “Pope Francis sometimes likes to make surprises.”

Pope Francis prays during Mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Prays for Victims As Death Toll in German Christmas Market Attack Reaches Five

Pope Francis expressed shock and offered prayers after a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Germany killed five people,...

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg in Germany. / Credit: Magdeburg Diocese

German Bishops Respond to Deadly Magdeburg Market Attack, Call for Prayer and Peace

German bishops expressed horror after a car attack at Magdeburg Christmas market left five dead and more than 200 injured.

Pope Francis addresses cardinals and senior Vatican officials during his annual Christmas speech to the Roman Curia, Dec. 21, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Warns against Gossip, Celebrates Family Life in Vatican Christmas Messages

Pope Francis delivered Christmas messages at the Vatican, warning against gossip, while the Holy See announced he is experiencing cold...

Pope Francis greets artists and participants of the 2024 Vatican Christmas Concert in the Clementine Hall on Dec. 14, 2024. / Vatican Media

Pope Francis Calls on Vatican Christmas Concert Artists to Promote Peace, Reconciliation

The pope emphasized the unique power of music to foster unity and communion, drawing parallels to the first Christmas.

Pope Francis gazes up at the bronze statue of Mary atop the 39.4-foot column at Rome's Spanish Steps, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Marks Immaculate Conception Solemnity in Rome with Prayer, Surprise art Visit: PHOTOS

Pope Francis marked the Immaculate Conception by visiting to two of Rome's most important Marian sites, followed by an unexpected...

Pope Francis delivers the homily during Mass on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

At Holy Mass with New Cardinals, Pope Francis Links Mary’s Humility to Modern Church

Pope Francis celebrated the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with the news cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, calling Christians to...

Pope Francis prays the Angelus on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

World Leaders Must Broker Christmas Peace, Pope Francis Urges Ceasefire "on all war fronts by Christmas Celebrations"

The pope also encouraged everyone to “open our hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus, born of Mary Immaculate” as...

Pope Francis arrives for a consistory at St. Peter's Basilica with visible bruising on his face, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained that the Pope suffered a contusion after hitting his chin on a bedside table the previous morning. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris Historic, Shows "sadness and mourning give way to joy": Pope Francis

“Today, sadness and mourning give way to joy, celebration, and praise,” the Holy Father wrote in his message to Archbishop...

Pope Francis places the red biretta on Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, archbishop of Naples, during the consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Creates 21 New Cardinals from 19 Countries, Urges Them to Resist the “seduction of power”

The pope highlighted that the term “cardinal” symbolizes a “hinge,” emphasizing their vital role as in holding the Church together.

Left to right: Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe, Archbishop Fernando Chomali, Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, and Bishop Mykola Bychok, CSsR, will be made cardinals in a consistory on Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: EWTN News; Marco Mancini/ACI Stampa

New Cardinals Emphasize Church Unity, Evangelization ahead of November 7 Consistory

“I am with my heart, and I would say with my whole body, for a synodal vision,” Archbishop Ignace Bessi...

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus address on the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 1, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

"Raise your heads," Pope Francis Tells Faithful in First Advent Message amid Multiple Conflicts

Pope Francis on Sunday addressed cosmic upheavals, modern anxieties, and current conflicts while emphasizing hope and spiritual vigilance.

Pope Francis meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I at the Vatican, Oct. 4, 2021. / Vatican Media.

A Path Towards Unity: Pope Francis Proposes Joint Catholic-Orthodox Celebration of Nicaea Anniversary

The letter was delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch during his visit to Istanbul for the patronal feast of the Orthodox...

Pope Francis gave a special message to Chinese Catholics at the end of his Mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept. 3, 2023. / Vatican Media

Pope Francis Announces Chinese Translations for Weekly Audiences

“Next week, with Advent, the Chinese translation will also begin here publicly,” the pope said on Nov. 27 during his...

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at his general audience on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

At General Audience, Pope Francis Pleads for Ukraine's Children

“Think of the Ukrainian children and young people who suffer at this time without heating in a very harsh winter,”...

Pope Francis speaks on the solemnity Christ the King in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Nov. 24, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Urges Young Catholics to Build a World Rooted in Christ’s Kingship

At the Vatican, Pope Francis celebrates Christ the King Sunday, urging young Catholics to embrace authentic faith and lasting Christian...

Pope Francis smiles at his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis’ Trip to French Island with Distinct Italian Culture Confirmed: Here’s What He’s to Do in Corsica Dec. 15

The journey includes Mass at Place d’Austerlitz and meetings with local clergy under Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo.

Pope Francis greets members of Italy’s National Youth Council at the Vatican on Nov. 16, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Young People Can be "artisans of hope" amid Mental Health Challenges

“The challenges are many: the dignity of work, family, education, civic engagement, care for creation, and new technologies,” Pope Francis...

Pope Francis speaks at a Mass and canonization of 14 new saints in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Honoring the "saints next door": Pope Francis Calls for Annual Celebration of Local Holy Men and Women

In a letter released by the Vatican, the pope designated November 9 as a day to honor these figures of...