The Renovation of Eschatology in the Second Vatican Council

The perspective of half a century allows for a deeper appreciation of the Second Vatican Council's renewed presentation of Christian eschatological doctrine. This article reviews the relevant documents of the Council, especially Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes, highlighting the novelty of the approaches and formulations contained therein. Aside from punctual aspects, it is possible to detect an overarching principle in the Council's magisterium - what we might call an "eschatological tension", which pervades the Council's teaching on the Church, human existence and activity, as well as earthly realities and human society.