By David Willey BBC, Casamari, Italy

The controversial African archbishop, Emmanuel Milingo, the former head of the Roman Catholic Church in Zambia, has celebrated a public mass in Italy for the first time since his marriage and later renunciation of his South Korean wife last year.

The marriage was illegal under Church law but the Pope has now personally pardoned the repentant African prelate.

The archbishop has been away for a year on a spiritual retreat in Argentina.

Shrieks and cries

The formal rehabilitation and readmission into the Church of Archbishop Milingo took place in the impressive surroundings of a 14th century Cistercian abbey about halfway between Rome and Naples.

Unlike many of his previous public healing ceremonies, this mass was held with the full approval of the Vatican.

The Pope met Milingo personally

As Archbishop Milingo prayed, his words were occasionally punctuated by shrieks and cries from the sick people present among the congregation, but he made no attempt to carry out an exorcism ceremony as he used to do.

The Pope has been kept closely informed about Archbishop Milingo's new ministry and has authorised him to continue his healing activities, but under closer supervision than before.

A high-ranking Vatican official sent a message from Rome congratulating Archbishop Milingo on his return.

About 1,000 people filled the nave of the ancient Abbey.

Close surveillance

The reason why the Vatican has bent over backwards to accommodate this controversial prelate - to some Catholics a charismatic faith-healer and to others a potential witchdoctor - is that they feared he might set up a breakaway African Church with his former friends, the Moonies.

The Moonies are a United States-based religious sect led by the Reverend Moon from Korea.

Some say the archbishop is a potential witchdoctor

Archbishop Milingo has now broken off relations with the sect after repudiating his former wife, Maria Sung, who was chosen for him by the Reverend Moon.

Archbishop Milingo has completed a year-long spiritual retreat at the Pope's suggestion.

In future he will be kept under closer surveillance by the Vatican.

His minders did not allow him to talk to journalists attending the abbey ceremony.