On Friday, December 5, 2014, in the magnificent Palazzo Bonaparte in Rome, the home of the French embassy to the Vatican, an all-day colloquium was held to honor a unique Assumptionist priest on the occasion of a recently published biography by French historian, Ms. Françoise Paoli, who had also become a friend of Fr. Wenger in his later years. The colloquium, co-sponsored by the French embassy, where Fr. Wenger served as a cultural attaché, and by the Assumptionists, brought together an array of scholars, journalists, diplomats, and fellow religious.

After words of welcome from the current French ambassador, Mr. Bruno Joubert, and from Very Rev. Benoît Grière, A.A., the superior general of the Assumptionists, guests were treated to five series of talks which attempted to shed light on the extraordinary gifts of Fr. Wenger and the impact that he had on the Church and on society..... as Byzantine scholar (a specialist in the works of St. John Chrysostom) , journalist (editor-in-chief at La Croix), invited guest at Vatican II, diplomat, and ecumenical theologian.

After completing his general studies, Fr. Wenger was asked to undertake specialized studies in Byzantine theology in order to join the prestigious Institut byzantin (Byzantine Institute), founded and run by the Assumptionists. Fr. Wenger loved this work and was, to his great surprise and delight, to discover at Mt. Athos, during one of his scholarly visits, a series of previously unpublished baptismal sermons by St. John Chrysostom, which he himself was to edit and publish.

Having become editor-in-chief of the Assumptionist daily, La Croix, in 1957, he was asked by the Vatican to attend the Second Vatican Council, as the unique journalist permitted behind close doors. In this capacity he was to serve as a kind of press liaison to the world press and, as the bishops' sole intermediary, would have a significant influence in interpreting the discussions of the Council to the media. This influence took on even greater reach by virtue of the substantial and authoritative articles that he published in La Croix during these years.

Perhaps due to his research and love of Eastern theology, Fr. Wenger developed a particular interest in Russia, serving as a cultural attaché there as well and writing several books and articles on this land, its rich culture, history, politics, and faith.

The Colloquium, entitled "Antoine Wenger: Une Traversée dans le XXème siècle et dans l'Église" ("Antoine Wenger: A Passage through the XXth Century and the Church"), provided fellow Assumptionists who have followed in his footsteps an opportunity to honor him both by their own scholarly abilities but also by their homage to him, e.g. Fr. Dominique Greiner, current editor-in-chief at La Croix, Fr. Jean-François Petit, professor at the Institut catholique in Paris, and Fr. Michel Kubler, ecumenical theologian and director of the St. Peter-St. Andrew Center in Bucharest, Romania.