The Russian Orthodox Church supports the war of aggression in Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin likes to show off his faith in church services. The Catholic Church has a different view of the Russian President, Cardinal Müller chooses drastic words for Putin.
As a Christian, Russian President Vladimir Putin bears particular guilt for the war crimes he is responsible for in Ukraine, according to Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller. "Hitler and Stalin had no conscience, but Putin crossed himself in Christ the Redeemer Church," said the former prefect of the Roman Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. "By doing so, he sins against Christianity." There was no justification for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, emphasized Müller.
"Putin is responsible for the most terrible crimes, crimes against innocent men, women and children. Unfortunately, we still have people who defend him." It is deeply depressing that a single person could start such a war with thousands of casualties. "Putin has a power play instinct with the emotional world of a sex offender," said Müller. "He enjoys keeping the whole world in suspense, getting his armies moving, turning the gas on and off."
Putin maintains a close relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church, which in return supports his policies. Müller said that Putin's faith may be just a facade that he is maintaining for reasons of power politics. "In any case, he will have to answer to God for his actions."
Müller was Bishop of Regensburg from 2002 to 2012, then he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI. appointed prefect of the Roman Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees Catholic teaching. When his first term expired in 2017, Pope Francis did not extend it. Müller has been a judge at the Supreme Church Court in the Vatican since 2021.
