In an interview granted to the program «The World Over», aired on October 30 and hosted by Raymond Arroyo, Cardinal Gerhard Müller —emeritus prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith— stated that the current tensions in the Church do not stem from attachment to tradition, but from what he defined as “progressivism” theological and moral. According to the German cardinal, it is these sectors who “do not follow the doctrine of the Church”, adopt “moral compromises” and “relativize the sacrament of marriage” through the blessing of same-sex couples.
Müller argued that the division does not arise from interest in the traditional liturgy, but from positions that, in his view, deviate from the magisterium. He emphasized that doctrinal fidelity cannot be presented as a problem when the origin of the tensions —he asserted— lies in currents that question central elements of Catholic teaching.
Criticism of Restrictions on the Traditional Roman Rite
The cardinal also addressed the situation of the Mass in its traditional form, which has been subject to limitations in various places. Müller assured that he does not understand the arguments of those who seek to restrict it: “There is no theological justification for limiting its celebration”, he stated, pointing out that the only response offered by its detractors would be an appeal to authority. If the rite were truly considered problematic, he added, it should be explained what its theological error would be, something that —he remarked— has not been demonstrated.
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Likewise, he rejected the statements of Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, who had described the traditional Mass as a “spectacle”. For Müller, it is not reasonable to suggest that the popes and bishops who celebrated it for centuries were motivated by a search for theatricality; he considered those criticisms as statements more aimed at generating headlines than offering a serious theological judgment.
When quoting a recent comment from Pope Leo XIV —published by Crux— according to which the Mass could be celebrated in Latin anywhere, as long as it was according to the modern rite, Müller responded that the Second Vatican Council never mandated the creation of a new liturgy by considering the previous one erroneous, but rather sought to facilitate understanding of the celebration for those who did not know Latin.
A “useless controversy” that must be overcome
The cardinal described the dispute surrounding the traditional Mass as a “useless” controversy that should be overcome. “We can debate with those who deny the divinity of Christ —he said—, but not with those who prefer the Mass in the ancient rite”. He also criticized that some bishops advise the faithful attached to the traditional liturgy to stay home or go to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, an attitude that —he warned— only increases division. In response, he called for opening spaces for dialogue to reduce tensions.
Warning about a “theological relativism” in the Vatican
Müller also warned about what he described as a “growing theological relativism” present in certain spheres of the Vatican, especially in some approaches to interreligious dialogue. In this context, he criticized the creation of a Muslim prayer room within Vatican City, describing it as a gesture of “self-reduction” motivated by a desire to appear “open” rather than by solid theological reflection.
According to the cardinal, it is not clear that this decision was consulted with the competent bodies, and he warned that some Muslim groups might interpret it as a sign of “recognized superiority”. He also emphasized that religious doctrines with divergent conceptions of peace, freedom, or human dignity cannot be placed on the same level. “We cannot mix them. We are not ‘Fratelli tutti’”, he declared.