Three German Cardinals Stepping Into the Sistine Chapel: A Peek Into the Next Pope's Potential Backers
Germans of the trio are choosing the upcoming Pontiff
Get set for the smoke signals once more! The Sistine Chapel is about to witness the election of a new Pope, with the world hanging on every puff from the chimney. Three German cardinals will join the cloistered ranks in the upcoming vote.
In the not-too-distant future, the Vatican will be a hive of activity as 133 cardinals are sealed off from the outside world to decide on the successor to the late Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics across the globe.
Three German cardinals have earned their place among the papal electors. One is the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Reinhard Marx, the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki, and Curial Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. With Rome as their second home, none of these contenders are viewed as frontrunners for the papacy.
Reinhard Marx (71) - A Voice for Reform
Known for his eloquence and uninhibited speech, Archbishop Marx has become a powerful orator. Even on the day of Francis' funeral, he made it clear what he expects from the new Pope: "A personality with guts, freedom, and deep roots in the Gospel." Although Francis and Marx didn't always see eye to eye, they had a better relationship than the other German cardinals.
A longtime chair of the German Bishops' Conference, co-founder of the Synodal Way, and one of the reformists within the church, Marx exerts significant influence. Italian newspapers even refer to him as one of the "kingmakers." Despite his denial, he was selected as one of three deputies to Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, the concave's organizer. Marx has been busy in the Vatican, despite his lingering shoulder injury sustained in early March.
Gerhard Ludwig Müller (77) - A Pillar of Conservatism
After serving as the most influential theologian in the universal Church as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Müller was dismissed by Francis in 2017. Since then, he's leaned more toward conservative dogmatism. Müller frequently lambasted Francis' reforms and has been vocal in his hope for a change in direction. The new Pope, he recently said, should "unite the Church in the revealed truth."
Müller's outspoken criticism of the German Bishops' Conference distancing from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), his signing of a controversial manifesto during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his repeated praise for former U.S. President Donald Trump are just a few examples of Müller's polarizing stance. He opposes same-sex marriage, the ordination of women as priests, and any change to the mandatory celibacy rule for priests.
Rainer Maria Woelki (68) - A Conservatively Inclined Pick
As a two-time conclave participant, Archbishop Woelki's stances on contentious issues like the priesthood for women and the blessing of same-sex couples remain staunchly conservative. However, when it comes to migration, he supports Francis' viewpoint. It is implied that he would be more inclined to vote for a conservative churchman in the conclave.
As it stands, Cardinal Woelki finds himself in a compromising position within the Church. Due to concerns regarding his handling of abuse allegations against priests, he has retreated from public life in his diocese. Francis publicly rebuked him for "serious communication errors" and sent him on a five-month sabbatical in 2021. The Cologne Public Prosecutor's Office is also investigating him, with allegations of perjury and false testimony at the core of the investigation. Ultimately, the controversy circles around when he became aware of the abuse claims.
In the upcoming papal conclave, at least two German cardinals will be in the running. While some speculate there might be more German cardinals involved, only a few are currently in the spotlight. Regardless, these cardinals will not only bring unique perspectives to the table but may also play a critical role in determining the future of the Catholic Church.
- The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the situation in the Middle East, voicing apprehensions as the Vatican prepares for the election of a new Pope.
- Pope Francis, during his tenure, had expressed admiration for Reinhard Marx, the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, despite their differing viewpoints, deeming him a reformist within the church and even dubbing him a "kingmaker" by Italian newspapers.
- Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has been critiqued for his conservative stance on issues such as women's ordination, same-sex marriage, and celibacy for priests, while also being known for his outspoken opposition to reforms within the Church and his praise for figures such as Donald Trump.
- Rainer Maria Woelki, the Archbishop of Cologne, is identified as a conservative cardinal, having staunchly conservative views on several contentious issues, yet aligning with Pope Francis on the topic of migration. However, controversy surrounds him due to allegations of mishandling abuse cases and investigations into perjury and false testimony.
