A leading conservative cardinal has issued a stark warning against powerful 'ideological lobbies' including the so-called 'gay lobby' ahead of the vote to choose a new Pope.
German cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a fierce critic of the late Pope Francis, urged the Church to return to its traditional roots and demanded the next pontiff be ‘strong on doctrine’ and ready to resist mounting liberal pressures.
Speaking to Italy’s La Stampa newspaper, Cardinal Müller insisted the new Pope must have ‘solid theological and doctrinal formation’ and stand firm against what he described as the creeping threat of ‘heresy’ and ‘gender ideology’.
‘Doctrine is not the property of the Pope, the bishops, or the faithful,’ he declared. ‘It must conform to the word of Jesus. No one can modify it. If Jesus says marriage is between a man and a woman, no one can change that doctrine.’
The outspoken cardinal also blasted calls to equate marriage with same-sex unions, saying it 'totally contradicts the doctrine of the Bible'.
His fiery intervention came as cardinals from around the world gathered behind closed doors in Rome to set the date for the all-important conclave, which will now begin on May 7.
It comes just days after the funeral of Pope Francis, who died last week aged 88 after suffering a stroke and heart failure.
In a tradition dating back centuries, the so-called ‘Princes of the Church’ will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel until they agree on a new leader.
The conclave sees cardinals shut away from the outside world until white smoke rises from the chimney above the Vatican, signalling a decision has been made.
This time the conclave is shaping up to be a bruising battle between traditionalists, who want to roll back the liberal reforms of Francis’s papacy, and progressives determined to continue his inclusive legacy.
Of the 252 cardinals in the Church, only 135 - those aged under 80 - are eligible to vote.
Two have pulled out for health reasons, leaving 133 electors to choose the next leader of the world’s 1.3billion Catholics.
Veteran Italian cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, 83, warned that the sheer number of electors - the largest in history - could complicate proceedings.
‘There could be some difficulties because there have never been so many cardinal electors and many of them don’t know each other,’ he said.
‘I have the feeling that this will not be a long conclave. Even among cardinals that I don’t know, and among those who come from the far reaches of the world, I see a great love for the Church and the desire for it to have a new leader as soon as possible'.
However, German cardinal Walter Kasper, a close ally of Francis, joked when asked about the qualities the next Pope should have: ‘I don’t know, you’ll have to phone God and ask him. But I hope we can arrive at a consensus very quickly on who will be the next pope.’
With 108 of the voting cardinals appointed by Francis himself, there is speculation that his successor could be in his mould - although the sharp divisions within the College of Cardinals mean nothing is certain.
Previous conclaves have been relatively swift affairs, with both Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI elected within two days.
But insiders warn this time could be different, with many recalling the 13th-century conclave that famously dragged on for nearly three years.
For now, Rome’s medieval Borgo district, a stone’s throw from St Peter’s Basilica, is buzzing as cardinals hold discreet discussions in trattorias and backstreet cafés.
Veteran Italian prelate Anselmo Guido Pecorari, 79, had a piece of practical advice for his colleagues: ‘I advise my colleagues, especially the British and the Americans, to leave behind their red robes and to put their cardinal rings in their pockets.
'Otherwise, the restaurant owners try to take advantage of them and sting them for the wine'.