Cardinal Müller demands: New Pope should revolutionize dialogue with Islam!

Cardinal Müller demands: New Pope should revolutionize dialogue with Islam!

In a recent interview with La Republica Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller expressed his expectations of the future pope. He hopes that the new leadership of the Catholic Church will critically rethink and reorient the dialogue with Islam. Müller, who was once prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formulates his views more clearly and critically than his predecessor, Pope Francis. These statements come at a time when the discussion about Francis' successor is becoming more intense.

Müller emphasizes that dialogue at the level of reason is possible. It recognizes that Muslims respect certain principles of natural ethics and believe in God. Nevertheless, he asks the profound question of how people who believe in the Creator of all people can commit murder in the name of God. This critical perspective relates directly to Islamist terrorism, which is a cause for concern worldwide.

The relevance of the Abu Dhabi document

In a further context, Müller refers to the Abu Dhabi document signed in February 2019, which he describes as “sensational”. This document, signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, calls for solidarity from members of both religions and acknowledges that violence and coercion in matters of faith are incompatible. Müller does not see the signing as an admission of the papal magisterium, but rather as a significant step towards interreligious understanding, which sees fundamental human rights as divinely guaranteed.

If one turns out to be a critic of the document, Müller emphasizes that this does not relativize the Catholic faith. Rather, it is important to respect the equality of all people. In this context he recalls the words of Benedict XVI. from his Regensburg speech in 2006 to emphasize that the declaration is not intended to promote any dogmatic or ethical relativization.

Political and social reactions

Müller's statements make it clear that voices are being raised within the Catholic Church that are calling for a change of course. This is also what Bishop Hanke says, calling for Christians and citizens to demonstrate for the right to life of the weakest. These demands and the ongoing interest in the future papal election come at a time when political figures such as US President Donald Trump have announced that they will be attending Pope Francis' funeral.

Seven days of mourning are declared in Argentina as Cardinal Erdö arrives in Rome and calls Francis the "Pope of the Nations." In view of all these developments, it is clear that the church is in a phase of reorientation, which is influenced by Müller's critical positioning on matters of Islamic dialogue and interreligious relations.