Rome church for healing archbishop

by Vivianc Hewitt in Rome ARCHBISHOP Emmanuel Milingo, recalled to Rome six years ago from his diocese in Lusaka, Zambia, because of allegedly employing African rites in the celebration of the Mass, may soon be given his own parish in the Eternal City.
Despite recent reports of Vatican displeasure at the archbishop's continuing practice of saying special prayers of healing to congregations of up to 7,000 people in a Rome hotel's congress hall. Pope John Paul received the controversial African churchman this week. Archbishop Milingo emerged, describing the meeting as "cordial" and hinting at the possibility of a city centre church base from which to perform his healing ministry.
People seeking miracle cures queue for hours in the street outside the archbishop's Rome house, hoping for an appointment. More than once the Vatican has ordered Archbishop Milingo, who is attached to the Pontifical Tourism Commission, to halt his healing ceremonies, and change his address. However, the pilgrims have continued to seek him out and it is thought that it is this weight of numbers that has forced the Vatican to soften its attitude. A recent unpublicised Mass, celebrated by the archbishop, drew coachloads of pilgrims from all over Italy. The church was packed four hours before the Zambian prelate arrived.
Archbishop Milingo, throughout his enforced exile, has continually denied charges that he incorporates traditional African rites in his religious ceremonies. "Superstition has nothing to do with it. It is a question of abandoning oneself to the will of God and His power," he wrote in a letter to John Paul II.
• Another controversial African churchman has been posted to a mission in Cameroon in central Africa. Fr Eugenio Melandri, recently removed as editor of Missions Today after criticising the hierarchy in Third World counties, has said that he may not accept the Vatican's decision to send him overseas. He is considering running for the European Parliament — an act which would he likely to bring him suspension as a priest.