Abstract

The author starts from the recent publication of F. Grossheutschi's book on Carl Schmitt and the Italian translation of Schmitt's "Die Lage der europäischen Rechtswissenschaft" to discuss the schmittian notion of "Katechon". Tracing back its genesis and evolution from its origin in St. Paul's text through the Church Father's hermeneutic up to Luther's interpretation, the author surveys Schmitt's use of this Greek word from the legal writings of 1940's to the latest international studies, emphasizing the progressive shifting from a negative to a more positive connotation.