Controversial archbishop Emmanuel Milingo has turned up in Rome in an apparent attempt to make peace with Pope John Paul.
Milingo scandalised the Catholic world by defecting to the sect of Rev Sun Myung Moon and marrying a Korean woman.
Church sources said Zambia-born Milingo showed up unexpectedly on Monday night at the papal summer residence of Castelgandolfo, southeast of Rome, and spent about half an hour inside.
It was not clear if the 71-year-old archbishop, a charismatic faith healer and exorcist, met the Pope there.
The visit took place just two weeks before an August 20th deadline for Milingo to publicly return to the fold, renounce Moon's sect and leave his wife or face excommunication.
Most church observers believe Milingo's career in the Roman Catholic Church is over after he joined the Moon sect in New York last May.
Vatican sources said at the time the Pope felt hurt by Milingo's action because the Pontiff had often been lenient with him when others in the Church felt he had to be disciplined for unauthorised faith healing and exorcism.
Last month, the Vatican ordering Milingo to comply with conditions set by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.