Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller has firmly responded to the criticisms of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, against Pope Leo XIV, emphasizing that no one can question the Pontiff when he fulfills his mission to proclaim the Gospel of peace. In a text published by Kath.net, the German cardinal claims the Pope’s authority in the face of any political pressure.
Müller recalls that the cardinals chose Peter’s successor “in conscience before God” and that they have promised obedience and fidelity to the extreme. In that context, he warns that any attempt to manipulate or instrumentalize the papacy constitutes a grave betrayal of the Church.
The Pope’s mission does not depend on politics
“The Holy Father can do nothing else but work for peace among peoples”, affirms Müller, pointing out that this mission does not respond to geopolitical interests, but to the mandate received from Christ.
In this sense, he insists that “no one has the right to criticize the Pope” when he acts in accordance with that mission, placing his authority on a plane different from political conflicts.
United States and its international responsibility
The cardinal recognizes the role of the United States as a superpower with a historical responsibility in the defense of freedom and global stability. At the same time, he emphasizes that international law, rooted in the Christian tradition, is not intended to protect tyrants, but peoples.
In certain circumstances, he notes, measures such as economic sanctions or even the use of force may be necessary to stop dangerous regimes.
War, justice and moral dilemma
Müller also addresses the issue of war from a moral perspective, stating that there are no “clean wars” and that decisions in this area always imply responsibility and ethical consequences.
He warns of the historical failure of appeasement policies such as those applied against Nazism and points out that, in some cases, defense against aggressions can be legitimate, even if it involves resorting to the same means as the adversary.
Iran, Israel and the use of religion
The cardinal harshly denounces the Iranian regime, which he accuses of instrumentalizing religion to justify violence, and maintains that faith cannot be used in any case to legitimize the murder of innocents.
Likewise, he reaffirms Israel’s right to exist and expresses his hope that conflicts in the Middle East can be resolved without a military escalation.
The authority of the Pope in the face of power
In his conclusion, Müller insists that the Pope’s word cannot be subjected to political interests nor judged from criteria of opportunism. He recalls that the Pontiff acts as a witness to the Gospel of peace and warns against any attempt to invoke the name of God to justify human strategies.
In this way, the cardinal places the Pope’s message on a higher plane than political confrontation, emphasizing that his mission is not to align with any power, but to proclaim the truth of the Gospel.