Cardinal Robert Sarah cautions that turning liturgy into conflict risks hollowing the Church’s soul and mission to place God at its center.
Newsroom (01/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a reflective interview with the French broadcaster CNews, Cardinal Robert Sarah issued a candid warning about the spiritual direction of the Catholic Church, insisting that “the Church is nothing without God.” The former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship cautioned that disputes over the liturgy risk transforming a sacred act of worship into a “battlefield,” undermining the Church’s mission and unity.
Avoiding direct references to individuals, the Guinean cardinal framed his concern within the broader context of cultural relativism, rupture, and innovation. “God must truly be placed at the center of our existence, at the center of our life, at the center of our concerns,” he said. “If we detach the Church from this mission … the Church is useless.”
Liturgy as a Source of Division
Cardinal Sarah lamented that the liturgy — the very heart of Catholic worship — has too often become a source of ideological conflict. Quoting Benedict XVI, he reminded viewers that “the crisis of the Church today comes from the crisis of the liturgy.” He voiced support for Pope Leo XIV’s concern over preserving liturgical unity, adding: “It is not a place for battle. We have made it a place of combat. That is how we destroy the liturgy.”
His remarks surfaced as the Vatican continues to address tensions around the Traditional Latin Mass. Earlier in March, Pope Leo XIV appealed through Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin for French bishops to offer “generous” pastoral responses to Catholics attached to the older liturgy. Parolin, while recognizing the strain the issue has caused, echoed Sarah’s sentiment that worship should never become “a source of conflict and division.”
Fidelity to Tradition
Throughout the interview, Cardinal Sarah returned to the theme of fidelity to the deposit of faith. “We must pass on what we have received,” he said firmly. “We must invent nothing. We are heirs.” He warned against attempts to reshape the Church’s essential identity: “We want to invent a new Church, or a new priesthood, then we are no longer in the Church of Christ.”
Turning to the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council, Sarah contended that the reforms it inspired were not meant to sever ties with the past. “The Council never intended a rupture with the past,” he said, adding that it has too often been misunderstood “as a total rupture.”
Concerns Over the Society of St. Pius X
His comments follow renewed tension with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), which recently declined a Vatican proposal for renewed doctrinal discussions. The Society has also confirmed plans for episcopal consecrations on July 1 without the Holy See’s authorization. Earlier this year, Sarah expressed “deep concern and profound sadness” about the move, calling it “a grave act of disobedience” that risks fracturing the Church’s unity.
Universality and Truth
Cardinal Sarah also cautioned against excessive cultural adaptations within Church life, warning that regionalized liturgies could threaten the faith’s universality. “People want an Amazonian liturgy, an African liturgy,” he said. “But then where do we go to preserve the universality of the Church?”
Rejecting claims of religious equivalence, he affirmed the uniqueness of the Christian message: “People say today that all religions are equal … that is not true.” To him, such a view “contradicts the Incarnation,” the central mystery of the Christian faith.
A Voice for Continuity
Known for his austere spirituality and theological conservatism, Cardinal Sarah, who turns 80 this June, continues to serve as one of the most articulate voices urging the Church to rediscover its center in God. His message was not that of a polemicist but of a guardian — wary of trends that might blur faith into cultural fashion.
“The Church cannot be reduced to a political, humanitarian or sociological body,” he said simply. “Its essential purpose is to save souls and to nourish them through the sacraments.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald
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