Cardinal Gerhard Müller Warns of Cultural Shifts, Wokeism, and the Rise of Islam in Europe

Newsroom (27/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a candid and wide-ranging exclusive interview, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (now the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) under Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, addressed the profound challenges facing Christianity in Europe amid mass migration, secularization, and the pervasive influence of ideological movements. Speaking from his native Germany, the 77-year-old theologian and prelate did not mince words, drawing parallels between contemporary “wokeism” and historical totalitarian ideologies while expressing grave concerns about the demographic and cultural transformations reshaping the continent. Müller, known for his outspoken defense of traditional Catholic doctrine, emphasized the need for Christians to boldly proclaim the Gospel in the face of these threats. What follows is a detailed account of and interview with Diane Montagna from her substack edited for clarity and flow while preserving the cardinal’s original intent and phrasing.

Cardinal Müller opened the discussion by highlighting the influx of Muslim migrants into Europe and the imperative for Christians to respond with evangelization rather than capitulation.

“So many Muslims are arriving, and we cannot allow them to impose their religion on our culture,” Müller stated firmly. “We must confront this with the message of God’s love, since the image they have of God—a dictator whose arbitrary will must blindly be obeyed—is not the image that Jesus has given us. God is our Father, our Creator, who created us according to his image and likeness. We are His children, and by the Holy Spirit we can become the friends of God, friends of Jesus Christ.”

He stressed that this message of divine love and human dignity must be proclaimed vigorously, particularly in European nations where Christian faith has waned. “This is the message to which we must bear witness, especially in those European countries that have grown weary in their Christian faith and been secularized by the ideologies of nationalism, fascism, communism, and now wokeism, which threatens to destroy both people and their identity.”

When asked if he truly places “wokeism” on the same level as communism, Müller affirmed without hesitation, framing it as an extension of Marxist anthropology.

“Yes, I view it as a continuation of the Marxist understanding of man,” he replied. “According to Marx, we are not persons with an immortal soul capable, through grace, of living in a personal relationship with God, our Creator. Rather, we are seen as dependent on a political party or ideological group—or on the determinations of organizations such as the World Economic Forum—to define the nature of man. An elite few decide what human dignity is, and the masses are expected to obey and conform to everything they dictate. This is completely destructive.”

Expanding on this, Müller described wokeism as an assault on fundamental human structures. “Wokeism is part of an ideological wave that opposes personal identity, the body—male and female—, stable family relationships, distinct cultures and languages, history, and the normal stable relationships that are part of being human,” he explained. “It is, in essence, a continuation of the old Marxism. While it does not operate as an official political party, it has well-organized pressure groups everywhere—in the European Union, in the United States through the Deep State, in mass media, social media, and universities. These groups are highly oppressive, militant, and aggressive toward anyone who does not conform to their thought.”The Intersection of Wokeism and Islam

Probing further, about the relationship between wokeism and Islam, two forces that might seem at odds but appear to intersect in contemporary cultural battles. the Cardinal stated,

“Islam is, of course, a religion and has nothing inherently to do with wokeism,” Müller clarified. “However, wokeists are instrumentalizing Islam to undermine Christian identity and Western tradition and culture. I believe, though, that these same wokeists may be the next victims of radical Islamists. They may have calculated that Muslims will eventually adopt woke ideas, but there is no chance of this. On the contrary, Islam rejects the dignity of women, and its moral framework has nothing in common with the aims of wokeism, one of which is to homosexualize society and thought.”

He cited examples from the United Kingdom to illustrate his point. “In England, for example, wokeism in its initial phase uses Islamism as a tool to weaken Christian culture and tradition,” Müller said. “Currently, in tragic cases—such as when a girl is violated by several Muslim men—the girl is more likely to go to jail than the perpetrators.” He expressed optimism for political shifts, adding, “I hope that we will see meaningful change in England with the next elections.”

Turning to his homeland,when asked about parallels in Germany, where migration policies under former Chancellor Angela Merkel have drawn international scrutiny.

“It is somewhat similar,” Müller acknowledged. “On average, there are eighteen knife attacks each day, and two or three girls or young women are victims of gang rape. Yet even when a police officer is stabbed, there is often no reaction.”

He pointed to educational institutions as flashpoints. “There are also growing challenges in schools, where Muslim children often outnumber Christian children, but few are willing to confront this reality,” he said. “Even many bishops seem not to fully grasp the seriousness of the situation.”

When pressed on whether bishops truly fail to understand the gravity, Müller suggested a willful avoidance. “It is easier for them to close their eyes,” he responded. “Many are being swept up by this ideological wave and know that those who openly confess their Christian faith are attacked. They want to be loved by everyone, to be everyone’s darling. Only a few bishops in Germany truly understand what is happening.”

Müller contrasted the public visibility of faiths. “We have religious freedom in Germany, and in theory everyone can openly practice their faith, including Islam,” he noted. “But the reality is very different. Muslims are very present in the public sphere, while Christians are often hesitant even to hold a public Eucharistic procession for fear of offending or challenging others.”

The cardinal was asked to envision the long-term outcome if current trends persist unchecked.

“It could become like North Africa,” he warned. “Until the seventh century, it was a completely Catholic region, albeit with challenges such as the Donatists. But then Islam arrived, and five hundred years later, the population had become entirely Muslim. Were this to occur, Christians would become second-class citizens.”

He lamented the denial surrounding these changes. “Yet few want to acknowledge this,” Müller said. “My hometown of Mainz, for example, was seventy percent Catholic fifty years ago; today, due to secularization, migration, and other factors, that figure has fallen to twenty-seven percent. Currently, thirty percent of the country’s population are not ethnically German, and they are predominantly young. In twenty to thirty years, Islam could become the dominant religion.”

When challenged on whether Germany could truly become a Muslim-majority nation, Müller doubled down. “It already is, in many ways,” he asserted. “Muslims dominate public life, in part because politicians live in fear of them. Even though Muslims don’t have control of the government…”

He highlighted unlikely alliances. “The former communist party in eastern Germany is absolutely pro-Islam,” Müller observed. “Even though their ideology is entirely Marxist and atheistic, they have formed an alliance with Muslims, who profess belief in one God to whom all must submit. It is an absolute contradiction, yet it serves the purpose of de-Christianizing the West.”

The conversation turned darker when I raised the possibility of civil unrest.

“I believe young Germans are no longer able to defend themselves; in effect, they have already lost the battle,” Müller said somberly. “In truth, there was no battle—it was an infiltration. One million people arrived from Syria, many without speaking German. Germany offered them financial support and a developed infrastructure without requiring work. For them, it seems like an earthly paradise—until they exhaust the resources. Once that occurs, conflict could arise, potentially ending in civil war, but amongst themselves, similar to what we have seen in Syria.”

Affirming the realism of this scenario, he added, “Yes, it is absolutely realistic. There is no effective counter-movement addressing the consequences of depopulation or policies that promote abortion.”

Finally, when questioned whether the Catholic hierarchy bears responsibility for these developments through failures in evangelization and catechesis over recent decades.

“At the beginning of the depopulation movement, with initiatives such as the Club of Rome, there was resistance,” Müller recalled. “The Pope and the bishops spoke out against it. But the next generation of bishops lost their energy. Look at the German Synodal Way: it is focused on adapting the faith to align with modern ideologies rather than upholding authentic Catholic teaching.”

Cardinal Müller’s words serve as a stark call to action for the Church and society at large, urging a return to core Christian principles amid what he sees as existential threats. As Europe grapples with these intersecting forces, his insights underscore the urgency of cultural and spiritual renewal.

– Raju Hasmukh with files from Diane Montagna Substack