The Pope Emeritus has hailed Cardinal Gerhard Müller for defending the “clear traditions of the faith”.
His intervention came in a preface to a book of essays honouring Cardinal Müller.
Until last year the cardinal had served as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith but Pope Francis chose not to renew his term of office.
The book, entitled The Triune God: Christian Faith in the Secular Age and released by the German publisher Herder, is intended to mark the cardinal’s 70th birthday and comes ahead of the 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination in February.
In the introduction, Benedict XVI wrote that Blessed Paul VI wanted the more demanding positions in the Roman Curia, particularly the posts of prefect and secretary of the congregations, “to be limited to only five years in order to protect the freedom of the pope and the flexibility of the Curia”.
Addressing Cardinal Müller, Benedict XVI said: “Your five-year commission at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has expired, so you do not have a specific office anymore, but a priest and certainly a bishop and cardinal is never simply retired”, which is why he must continue to “publicly serve the faith”.
Vatican Radio said Benedict XVI also spoke about the importance of being prefect of the doctrinal congregation, a position he held for 23 years. Theological knowledge was essential for the role, the retired pope said, but so was knowing the limits of one’s theological knowledge.
Benedict concluded his introduction by telling Cardinal Müller: “You have defended the clear traditions of the faith, but in the spirit of Pope Francis you have tried to understand how they can be lived today.”
When it was announced in July that Cardinal Müller’s term was not being renewed, many commentators presented Pope Francis’s decision as one of sacking the German cardinal because of theological disagreements, particularly over the issue of Communion for divorced and remarried people. Cardinal Müller responded by telling a German daily that “there were no disagreements between Pope Francis and me”.
The cardinal told the newspaper that the Pope’s decision had been unexpected since such terms were usually renewed, but that he was not bothered by it.
However, he later complained about the manner of his dismissal, saying it was “unacceptable” that he was dismissed “within a minute” of the end of his term and without being given a reason.
Cardinal Müller had argued that the correct interpretation of Amoris Laetitia was “in an orthodox way in the unity of Catholic tradition”. He had told the Italian news site La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana that divorced and remarried people cannot be admitted to Communion unless they show contrition, go to Confession and resolve to live continently.
As a cardinal under the age of 80, Cardinal Müller is still a member of a number of Vatican congregations and councils.
It is not the first time Benedict XVI has given high praise to a senior Church figure who has seemed at odds with with Pope Francis. After the death of Cardinal Joachim Meisner, a signatory to the dubia which asked Francis to clarify Amoris Laetitia, Benedict sent a message to the funeral praising Cardinal Meisner as a “passionate shepherd and pastor”.
Pope ‘extends liturgist’s mandate’
The Pope has given his master of ceremonies another five-year term of office, according to Vatican Insider, the news site run by La Stampa newspaper.
Mgr Guido Marini, appointed by Benedict XVI in 2007, has had his mandate renewed a second time, the site reported. Mgr Marini, 52, who oversees every papal liturgy, is associated with the liturgical approach of Benedict XVI.
He replaced Archbishop Piero Marini, who had served in the post since 1987.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.