Cardinal Gerhard Müller denounces the “cult of personality” around Pope Francis, calling it a heresy and a distortion of Catholic doctrine.
Newsroom (29/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, one of the most prominent theological voices in the contemporary Catholic Church, has issued a stern warning against what he describes as a growing “cult of personality” surrounding Pope Francis. Speaking to the Catholic Herald, the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said that this trend, which venerates the personal and political opinions of the late pope, risks devolving into heresy and distorting the Church’s understanding of authority.
“It is my duty to criticise this cult of personality,” Cardinal Müller said. “It has nothing to do with the Catholic Church. Some of his friends spoke about a ‘new Church.’ For me, this is a heresy—to speak of the ‘Church of Francis.’ The ‘Church of Benedict’ doesn’t exist either.”
The German prelate, who served under Pope Benedict XVI, characterised the attitude of unconditional exaltation of the papacy—known historically as “ultramontanism”—as a spiritual danger. The term, rooted in 19th-century church politics, refers to an exaggerated veneration of the pope as a source of truth beyond his doctrinal authority. Müller argued that while ultramontanism arose in an era when Catholicism was under siege by secular nationalism, its expression today represents a theological imbalance.
“It has always been understood that the Pope is a bishop among other bishops,” he explained, “with a special charism as the successor of Saint Peter—a principle of unity given by Christ, not manufactured by men. The Pope’s proper title, servus servorum Dei—servant of the servants of God—reminds us that he is not an absolute monarch.”
A distortion of leadership
Müller’s remarks reflect a recurring concern among some theologians that modern media culture encourages a “papal celebrity” mentality inconsistent with Catholic ecclesiology. Asked about the proliferation of Pope Francis souvenirs near the Vatican, the cardinal lamented the spectacle. “When he is going along in his car in Saint Peter’s Square, he is not a Caesar,” Müller said. “He is there to give a blessing in the name of Jesus Christ, not because crowds want a picture with the Pope.”
He contrasted this with the quieter intellectual legacy of Benedict XVI, suggesting that while Benedict may have lacked mass appeal, his theological writings remain crucial in understanding the limits of papal authority. “He criticised how beginning in the 19th century there developed a certain pope cult,” Müller recalled. “It has to do with mass media. We have to avoid it. The Pope is not a Führer.”
The cardinal’s critique extends beyond devotional excess. He warned that treating papal statements as infallible expressions of doctrine—rather than pastoral or prudential judgments—erodes the Church’s theological structure. “It was an exaggeration that every private opinion of the Pope is dogma or interpretation of revealed truth,” he said. “There is no ‘doctrine of Francis.’ There is only the doctrine of the Church.”
Historical roots and modern distortions
Tracing the origins of ultramontanism, Müller invoked the turbulent 19th century, when European governments such as Bismarck’s Germany waged political and cultural campaigns—the Kulturkampf—against the Church. In that context, Catholics rallied defensively around the papacy, elevating it as a bulwark against anti-Christian ideologies.
“To defend the Pope, they developed a certain pope cult,” Müller explained. “It was an exaggeration, a reaction to oppression. But we cannot import that mentality into our time.”
He noted that contemporary society continues to marginalise Christian views in public life. “Non-Christian and anti-Christian ideologies dominate the public sphere,” he said. “Only the Christian standpoint is excluded. That is absolutely wrong.” Yet the response, he insisted, cannot be to turn the papacy into a competing ideology or personal movement.
Rediscovering the proper centre
For Müller, the essential corrective lies in restoring focus to Christ rather than to the person of the Pope. “When he is entering St Peter’s Basilica, everyone is taking a photo of him,” he observed ruefully. “No, they should be making the sign of the cross.”
He pointed to the Holy Year pilgrimage, which drew nearly forty million visitors, as an example of misplaced priorities. “That number is nothing if they do not have contact with Jesus Christ, with conversion in their life,” he said.
Throughout the interview, Müller’s tone was not defiant but pastoral—firmly reminding the faithful that the papacy is a service, not a spectacle. “The Pope is the first servant of the Church,” he said. “He leads, but he cannot give grace. He is an instrument of grace.”
In closing, Cardinal Müller suggested that recovering a balanced view of the papacy will require theological maturity, historical honesty, and spiritual discipline. “We must remember,” he said, “that unity in the Church comes not from man but from faith—from Jesus Christ and the revealed truth.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald
