Truths for the Conclave from Cardinal Müller in new interview

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC, German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, made statements that have not gone unnoticed in the context of the upcoming Conclave that will elect Pope Francis's successor.

In his remarks, Müller underscores the limits of Papal power and warns against certain doctrinal deviations that, according to him, threaten to alter the very essence of Catholicism.

"The Pope must be faithful to the Magisterium of the Church; he cannot do whatever he wants," the German cardinal stated forcefully, insisting that the Pontiff's authority is not absolute nor can it contradict the Word of God.

During the interview, published by ABC, Müller avoided describing the various pontificates as pendular, as some observers suggest. Instead, he preferred to speak of continuity in the mission, although he acknowledged the distinct personalities of recent Popes: John Paul II, marked by the struggle for freedom in the face of totalitarianism; Benedict XVI, “the great theologian and pedagogue”; and Francis, with a pastoral approach focused on the poor and world peace.

Fiducia supplicans: the most controversial point

One of the issues that has generated the most tension is the Fiducia supplicans declaration, which opens the possibility of blessings for homosexual couples or those in an irregular situation. Müller does not hide his concern and points out that this proposal has lacked a “clear theological foundation,” to the point of provoking the outright rejection of some episcopal conferences, such as that of Africa.

“Marriage between a man and a woman is at the centre and foundation of human existence,” he affirmed, warning that LGBT ideology denies the pillars of Christian anthropology. However, he made an important distinction: pastoral accompaniment is necessary, but it cannot contradict revealed doctrine.

The Cardinal also addressed one of the most common misconceptions surrounding the role of the Holy Spirit. He warned against the magical or mechanical view some have of his assistance in the election of the Pope or in his decisions. “He is not an oracle. The assistance of the Holy Spirit does not exempt the Pope from respecting the limits imposed by the Word of God,” he said, citing documents such as the Second Vatican Council's Constitution Dei Verbum.

“The Pope cannot say that lay people can celebrate Mass or allow Communion in a state of mortal sin. Nor can he govern the Church without the Episcopate, which is by divine right,” he added.

The Synod and Parliamentarism

Another critical point was his assessment of the Synod on Synodality. For Müller, the participation of lay people and consecrated persons is legitimate in other forms of ecclesial dialogue, but not in a synod of bishops per se. “Only those with episcopal ordination can vote in a synod. No one can change that. Transforming the Synod into a Parliament would be to destroy its nature,” he warned.

In his opinion, those who appeal to the Holy Spirit to justify these reforms, without solid theological arguments, “make the Spirit responsible for their own nonsense.”

The profile of the new Pope

Looking to the future, Müller expressed his hope that the next Pope will seek the advice of good theologians and the College of Cardinals. Although he does not need to be an academic, he must be willing to clearly address the great current challenges, such as nihilism, transhumanism, and migration. “The Church must offer hope in the face of these threats, but without losing its essence,” he said.

The cardinal also lamented the polarization within the Church and the media manipulation that reduces theological debate to political categories. “The Church is not a party. Christ is the head, not an ideological committee,” he stated.

Müller concluded by reaffirming that speaking clearly is not a form of confrontation with the Pope, but rather a duty of fidelity to the mission he has received as a Cardinal and theologian. In his own words: "We cannot remain silent when the truth of the Gospel is distorted."

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