Johannes Willebrands: The Vatican's Ecumenical Diplomat

"Johannes Willebrands" uncovers the life of a man who led the world's largest religion to embrace dialogue and religious liberty. Drawing on newly discovered archival sources, Karim Schelkens tells the story of how Willebrands, who lived through two world wars, was moved to launch under-the-radar initiatives that helped move European Catholics beyond an attitude of condemning Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, Jews, and Muslims in the postwar years. His diplomatic role became central once these initiatives were adopted during the Second Vatican Council, leading to worldwide rapprochement between Catholics and other believers. Through these initiatives, Willebrands also influenced the relationship between communities on either side of the Iron Curtain.

Previously published in Dutch, this revised and updated English translation of Johannes Willebrands sheds new light on what drove the pivotal changes to the Catholic Church during the Cold War era. Readers interested in political-diplomatic history, interreligious dialogue, ecumenism, Church history, the Vatican, and Catholicism will gain a new perspective on the diplomatic efforts behind this shift.