THE Vatican is to go online tomorrow, spreading the Good News with a new Internet web site under the spiritual and electronic control of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael, three host computers named after angels that will guide the Hole See as it navigates the information superhighway.

While ecclesiastical minded web surfers can browse through more than 1,200 church documents and papal speeches, the divine mystery of Vatican finances will remain as impenetrable as the blessed sacraments. Any injudicious enquiry is likely to prompt the system into "access denied" mode - yet another challenge to inquisitive computer hackers.

Sadly e mailing the Pontiff to suggest liquidation and redistribution of the Church's financial assets to the poor and needy will not be possible. His Holiness, who is reassuringly old fashioned, has no PC in his office, but is said to be fascinated by the project. The site can be accessed at http://www.vatican.va - sounds like a lot of fun.