Italian (English to follow soon)

This personal letter is one of several communications that Archbishop Milingo sent to the Vatican during the last 40 days. They were sent by mail (to the Holy Father's office directly), by fax (via the Secretariat of State & the Press Office), and through personal delivery by the Archbishop's staff and friends in Rome. No reply has been received to any of the communications, despite the furnishing of fax numbers, phone numbers, and a mailing address as well. In the meantime, His Grace's supporters have been treated severely, and cut off from all contact with him. All attempts by the Archbishop to encourage and assist his former congregations, or respond to their concerns, have been blocked or impeded with threat of sanction. All efforts to seek an audience with the Holy Father have been ignored.

Now, the Vatican has issued a public ultimatum, despite the assurance of spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls to communicate privately to Archbishop Milingo first (ZENIT, May 28, 2001), claiming that they do not know how to reach him. Clearly, they continue to use the media to discredit and misrepresent the Archbishop, as well as seek public support for their position. Monsignor Milingo cannot even be sure that the Holy Father is aware of his letters.

For this reason only, His Grace has asked that this private letter, greeted with silence by the Vatican, be made public. With apologies to the Holy Father, he conveys this letter to you. He will be available for interviews after his return to the United States later this week from Korea, where he is visiting his wife's family and making preparations for their future life together.

Archbishop Milingo responds to the statement made by the Catholic Bishops in Zambia