Archbishop Milingo Meets With Wife; Renounces Marriage

Jet, Sept 17, 2001

Roman Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo recently met with his wife, physician Maria Sung, face-to-face and told her he is leaving her to return to priestly life, ending a short-lived union that had embarrassed the Vatican.

Archbishop Milingo, Sung and their entourages of Catholic officials and Rev. Sun Myung Moon followers met for three hours at the Arcangelo Hotel in downtown Rome, Italy, where the archbishop delivered a letter to his wife explaining his reasons for renouncing their marriage.

Following the meeting Sung said, "Archbishop Milingo has asked me with a sincere heart to respect his wishes ... He said that his love for me will not change and will remain like that between a brother and a sister."

In a letter to his South Korean wife the 71-year-old archbishop wrote, "My commitment to life of the church, including celibacy, does not allow me to be married. The calling of the church is my primary pledge and the right one."

It was the first time in more than three weeks the Zambian archbishop had seen his bride. While visiting Rome last month he left her to meet with Pope John Paul II to explain his reasons for marrying in a multiple wedding ceremony in New York back in May (JET, June 18). He then unexpectedly reconciled with the church in a letter to the pope recommitting his life to the priesthood. Shortly after that the archbishop disappeared from the public and went on a "spiritual retreat" (JET, Sept. 3).

After the archbishop's disappearance, Sung threatened to starve herself to death until the archbishop delivered the news of his recommitment to the church directly to her face.

Following their most recent meeting Sung decided to accept Archbishop Milingo's decision and ended her 16-day hunger strike.

Ms. Sung, 46, told reporters, "I promised him that I will live alone for the rest of my life." She also said that her immediate plans were uncertain but that she hoped they would be reunited "in the afterlife."

At JET press time, there were no immediate comments from church officials on what the future would hold for the archbishop now that he has returned to the church.