ROME (Reuters) - The tearful Korean wife of Emmanuel Milingo, the Zambian archbishop who joined the church of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Saturday threatened to fast to death in front of the Vatican (news - web sites) unless she can see her secluded husband.
``If the (Catholic) Church will not let me see my husband, then I will begin to fast until they do or I will die,'' Maria Sung told a news conference at a luxury Rome hotel.
Breaking down in tears several times, she added: ``I will wait no more than three days, maybe less.''
The Rev. Philip Schanker, spokesman for the Unification Church who flew to Italy from Washington to follow the affair, said Mrs. Milingo wanted to carry out her hunger strike in front of the Vatican.
``She wants to do it in front of the Vatican and we are checking out laws and regulations about whether this is possible,'' Schanker said.
In a statement issued several hours earlier, the Vatican said Milingo, a controversial faith healer and exorcist, had ''decided to pass a period of reflection and prayer ahead of his full reconciliation'' with the Catholic Church.
A spokesman for Milingo said Friday that the 71-year-old had gone on a spiritual retreat somewhere in Italy and would not resurface for about 15 or 20 days.
At the news conference organized by the Unification Church and which had to be interrupted when she was overcome with emotion, Sung, who called herself Mrs. Milingo, said:
``My husband told me that he would give his life to protect me. But I don't know where he is, and I am afraid for what is happening to him.''
LOYALTY CLASH
``So now I am willing to give my life to find him. I ask the Church for mercy. I ask the Church for justice. I ask the Church to let me see my husband,'' she said.
Since he arrived unexpectedly in Italy last Monday, Milingo has said he feels torn between his wife, his respect for Unification Church leader Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his loyalty to the Pope.
Mrs. Milingo, wearing an elegant and simple blue jacket and a white silk scarf, said she had no doubt that she believed her husband's first loyalty was to her.
``I love my husband and he loves me. If necessary, I am ready to give my life to find him,'' Mrs. Milingo said, reading a written statement in halting Italian and then answering questions through an interpreter.
Milingo scandalized the Catholic world in May when he married a woman chosen by Moon. Moon is hailed as the Messiah by his followers but has been strongly criticized in several countries.
Milingo held talks Tuesday with Pope John Paul (news - web sites), who a Vatican statement said had ``paternally called him to his responsibility toward God and the Church.''
Last month, the Vatican read Milingo the religious riot act, telling him he risked excommunication if he did not leave his wife, sever links with Moon, and declare his fidelity to the Pope and the Catholic Church's discipline of celibacy.
The Vatican originally set a deadline of August 20 for Milingo to make a decision but suspended the deadline this week after Milingo arrived in Rome.