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 is hugged by a young visitor at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Thanks Pro-life Pilgrims on Movement for Life Golden Jubilee, Lauds Dedication to “service of human life”

The 88-year-old pontiff thanked the pro-life pilgrims on their organization’s 50th anniversary, praising their concrete support for mothers experiencing difficult...

The chapel at Gemelli Hosptial in Rome bears the name and contains a relic of another pope who knew these corridors well: St. John Paul II. The Polish pontiff was hospitalized here multiple times, including after an assassination attempt in 1981. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

Pope Francis Rests Well, Drinks Coffee, Reads Newspapers as Pneumonia Treatment Progresses

Recovery for the 88-year-old Holy Father “will certainly not be imminent,” Vatican officials cautioned, indicating a potentially extended hospital stay.

Left: Banners at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Expresses Heartfelt Gratitude for Spiritual Solidarity, Prays for the Suffering, Meets Vatican Officials

Vatican sources reported that the 88-year-old pontiff met Sunday morning with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and...

A statue of St. John Paul II is seen in front of the entrance to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb. 22, 2025, where Pope Francis continues to receive treatment for respiratory issues. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis' Health Remains Stable Following Friday Respiratory Crisis

The pontiff received the Eucharist Saturday afternoon and dedicated time to prayer at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

An aerial view shows over 4,000 deacons gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica for the special jubilee Mass, Feb. 23, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis in Hospital Urges Deacons to Selfless Service as Thousands Gather for Jubilee Mass

The message, centered on selfless service and forgiveness, emphasized three fundamental aspects of diaconal ministry: “forgiveness, selfless service, and communion.”

Pope Francis Spends Peaceful Second Night at Hospital, Prays for Peace at Angelus

Pope Francis spent a peaceful night and continued his treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, still managing to share a prepared...

A view of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis was delivered Feb. 14, 2025, to receive treatment for bronchitis. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis "peaceful" after First Night in Rome Hospital

“Medical assessments and necessary treatments are continuing,” after Pope Francis had a “peaceful night” and read several newspapers Saturday morning.

Sister Raffaella Petrini. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Sr. Raffaella Petrini of Franciscan Sisters of Eucharist to Become First Woman to Head Vatican City State Governorate

Sister Raffaella Petrini of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE) will become the first woman to lead the Vatican...

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 4, 2024. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Makes Surprise Festival Appearance with Peace Plea

Speaking from his residence at Casa Santa Marta in an unscheduled appearance via video, the pontiff praised music's unique ability...

Cardinal Michael Czerny is the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. / Credit: Pablo Esparza/CNA

People "terrorized" by U.S. Crackdown on Illegal Immigration: Vatican Official

“A crackdown is a terrible way to administer affairs and much less to administer justice,” Czech-born Canadian Jesuit Cardinal Michael...

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Feb. 2, 2025, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. / Credit: Vatican Media

Love and Light: Pope Francis Reflects on Christ’s Presentation

Pope Francis, reflecting on the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, says it serves as a reminder that Jesus...

Pope Francis speaks during his general audience on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Tells Ukrainian Youth to be Patriots, Pursue Peace Through Dialogue

In a virtual meeting, Pope Francis urged young Ukrainians to maintain hope and continue dialogue despite the ravages of war.

Pope Francis presides over First Vespers for the World Day for Consecrated Life in St. Peter's Basilica, surrounded by bishops, priests, and religious men and women on Feb. 1, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Anhelina Martsisheuskaya/CNA

Pope Francis Calls Consecrated Religious to be "bearers of light" amid Modern Challenges

The World Day for Consecrated Life, celebrated annually on Feb. 2, takes on special significance this year as the Church...

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

Suffering becomes "occasion for transformative encounter" with God: Pope Francis

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

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

"God’s Word walks with us": Pope Francis Presides Over Sunday of the Word of God amid 2025 Jubilee Events at Vatican

“The Word of God is alive: Through the centuries it walks with us and, by the power of the Holy...

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 They Could Celebrate Easter Together in 2025

Pope Francis emphasized that hope is “always possible” in Jesus Christ during an ecumenical vespers service marking both the Week...

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

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

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

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

"Disgrace": Pope Francis Condemns Mass Deportation Plans under Donald Trump, Appoints Woman to Lead Vatican Governorate

“If this is true it is a disgrace because it makes the poor unfortunate who have nothing pay the price...

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)

Catholic Bishops in France Request Criminal Probe into Abuse Claims against Emmaus Founder Abbé Pierre

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