Gerhard Ludwig Müller

Gerhard Ludwig Müller is a German cardinal and dogmatic theologian. Benedict XVI appointed him prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in 2012, succeeding Cardinal William Levada (Bishop-Accountability.org repost). Pope Francis did not renew his five-year mandate in 2017; Müller later said the decision was communicated "within one minute" without reasons and that "this style I cannot accept" (Bishop-Accountability.org repost), while also telling a German paper there were no differences between him and the pope (Catholic World Report).

Critic during Francis's pontificate. On 8 February 2019 he issued a "Manifesto of Faith" restating Catholic doctrine, which was widely read as implicit criticism of Francis; Cardinal Walter Kasper criticised it (Catholic World Report; Catholic Culture). America reported in 2021 that he was among Francis's critics who appeared often on Raymond Arroyo's EWTN programme The World Over (America), and the Spanish site InfoVaticana regularly reports his interviews. See Amoris laetitia and Fiducia supplicans.

The older Mass. After the May 2025 conclave the Associated Press reported that Müller suggested restoring access to the old Latin Mass as a first step for the new pontificate (AP via Yahoo News); in September 2025 he praised Leo XIV's "Christ-centered proclamation of the Gospel" (Catholic World Report). In summer 2026 he called for a dedicated Vatican body for Catholics attached to the older form (NCR), and in an interview reported by InfoVaticana said Traditionis custodes "did not have a positive effect" and had almost served as propaganda for the followers of Lefebvre (InfoVaticana).

The SSPX. In June 2026 he called the planned SSPX consecrations schismatic, compared the Society to the Donatists and said the dispute concerned authority rather than the Latin Mass (National Catholic Register/CNA; Catholic World Report). After the July 2026 decree, InfoVaticana reported that he disputed the Dicastery's view that confessions heard by SSPX priests are invalid (InfoVaticana).