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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 January 2009
Ten years after the Second Vatican Council the novel Die Vision des Papstes: Erzählung was published simultaneously by Catholic and Protestant publishers under the pseudonym ‘Sebastian Knecht’. The author of the work was the former official observer of the Protestant Church of Germany (EKD) to the Council, the Heidelberg professor Edmund Schlink, who retired in 1972. The fact of his authorship was known only by a few friends prior to his death; following the death of her husband Mrs Irmgard Schlink revealed the pseudonym. Thus today, one may first examine the historical reasons why Schlink wrote the book. Further, its theological content makes possible a clearer view of the strengths and problems of the particular way to the unity of the Church Schlink recommends in the story. Finally, the effect of the work raises the question if it was meaningful to suggest a solution to ecumenical problems by means of belles lettres.
page 237 note 2 Knecht, Sebastian, Die Vision des Papstes: Erzählung (Graz/Cologne/Vienna: Styria, and Göttingen: Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, 1975)Google Scholar. Italian translation: La Visione del Papa, racconto, tr. Livernai, Bruno (Brescia: Paideia Editrice, 1978)Google Scholar; French translation: Un Pape, un Jour …, Recit oecumenique, tr. Homeyer, Pierre (Chevetogne: Editions de Chevetogne, 1977)Google Scholar. There is as yet no English translation.
page 237 note 3 Schlink, is known to many English speaking readers as the author of The Theology of The Lutheran Confessions (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1961)Google Scholar and The Coming Christ and the Coming Church (Edinburgh and London: Oliver & Boyd, 1967). His Ökumenische Dogmatik (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht) appeared in 1983 and has not yet been translated.
page 238 note 4 On the history of the idea since Joachim of Fiore see the bibliographical references supplied in Lexikon für Theologie und Kirdie 8, 33.
page 238 note 5 17 November 1973, 73. Hieronymus, , Vatikan intern (Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlagsanstalt, 1973)Google Scholar.
page 238 note 6 Cf. Schlink, , ‘Okumenischer Stillstand?’ Christ und Welt 26, 30 June 1972, 16Google Scholar; Die Vision da Papstes, 54.
page 240 note 7 Cf. Die Vision da Papstes, 55–56. On pages 137–145 the growing recognition of unity within the framework of the Pentecost meeting on Patmos is described.
page 241 note 8 Cf., e.g., Nach dem Konzil Götingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1966), chapters XIV and XV.
page 241 note 9 Schlink wrote to his wife on 15 November 1964: ‘Here is the peak period. Many discussions, additional council meetings even in the afternoon, evil intrigues of the conservatives behind the scenes, weakness and indecisiveness of the pope who in the course of the last months has certainly lost the confidence of the bishops. Nevertheless the progressives will prevail and only with a limited toning down, as it appears.’
page 242 note 10 L. Vischer in a letter to the author, 27 March 1987.
page 242 note 11 G. Trenkler in a letter, 24 March 1987. He wrote in a letter to Schlink on 20 May 1975 that Visser t'Hooft had commented ‘exceedingly appreciatvely’ about the book. The book was in print at Styria-Verlag from 1975 to 1982, and at Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht from 1975 to 1988. 4000 copies were printed.
page 243 note 12 W. Stahlin to Styria-Verlag, 8 April 1975.
page 243 note 13 H. Küng to Styria-Verlag, 7 May 1975.
page 243 note 14 Schlink to A. Ruprecht, 26 October 1975.