It was founded by Joseph Matt on 7 October 1867. It was originally published in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in German to minister to German immigrants to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas who were being "attracted to and influenced by
Masonic and quasi-Masonic German-language newspapers and organizations." A German language edition was published until 1957. The English edition began in 1931.
The Wanderer says it was a major early opponent of a perceived "
Americanizing" of the Church. That tendency was condemned by Pope
Leo XIII in his 1899 apostolic letter,
Testem benevolentiae nostrae.
The Wanderer gives the following self-description:
The Wanderer, a national Catholic weekly journal of news, commentary, and analysis, has been publishing continually since 1867. Owned and operated by Catholic laymen,
The Wanderer is independent of ecclesiastical oversight but maintains a fiercely loyal adherence to Catholic doctrine and discipline. ==References==