According to reports from the Vatican, a Patron Saint for the internet, computers, computer users and computer technicians is about to be named.

Brushing aside a strong case for Clive of Cambridge - the eccentric TechnoEvangelist publicly crucified in 1989 over an electric car - the chosen man will be St Isidore of Seville, a 6th century monk renowned in his day for his vast accumulation of knowledge, and currently patron saint of both school children and students.

A formal announcement is expected from the Vatican at, or shortly after, Easter, marking the end of a hushed two-year debate on a suitable candidate for the job.

St Isidore's name was first suggested early in 1999 by an obscure group of Spanish Catholics known as the Observation Service of Internet, and has remained front runner largely through default. However, not everyone accepts that a man who lived 1,400 years before the web was conceived has a great deal to teach the current generation.

"The computer is such a modern invention - we're probably awaiting for a patron saint who can give us a valid example of how to use it," maintains Luke Coppen, deputy editor of the Catholic Herald, "some great media mover who actually knew what computers were. However, things are taking on their own momentum and the Church is following."

The principle of patron saints is that they are there to pray to in times of need, and should therefore have knowledge or at least affinity with the particular subjects in hand. In his defence, Isidore (not to be confused with the Isidore, the 11th century patron saint of farmers) is often credited as the compiler of the first database, a 20-volume encyclopaedia called the Etymologie as well as a history of the world. Clearly, this was a man with big interests and ambitions - a prototype Bill Gates, if you will. Critics point out that all he ever did was compile information, not disseminate or interpret it, and much of that information was both inaccurate and poorly written. Furthermore, few of the prayers attributed to his own hand (for example: "The man who is slow to grasp things but who really tries hard is rewarded") would find willing believers in today's Silicon Valley

Fortunately, there are prayers for every occasion - in this case, one of the proposed Prayer Before Logging On To The Internet. Here the saint would be beseeched to "direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter".

This, at least, is a rallying call both Christians and computer users can latch onto, patience being a key requisite for anyone not using a high speed line, and charity being particularly appropriate given the Church's uncertain stance towards the internet in the past.

The web has always offered potential for developing Christianity at a time of falling attendance and dwindling collection plates. However, the idea of endorsing a medium which was then more than 40% pure porn, or Christians logging on to wor ship together without the crucial act of breaking bread, was initially met with a disdain.

"Everyone was aware of it three or four years ago even if they were slow to get plugged in." says Bishop Konstant of Leeds, instrumental in setting up the Church's national website and often credited as Britain's most wired bish. "But all the dioceses are now online, which wouldn't have been expected two years ago, even if most are using it only for email," he says.

The change in recent attitudes has been stark, with the Vatican now producing of the most visited non-commercial sites on the web at www.vatican.va and a growing realisation that if anyone truly needs a Mission, the internet would be right up there with Goths and Americans.

"Just because a certain percentage of the web is used in a seedy way, doesn't mean it should be avoided, " says Bishop Konstant. "The written word is extraordinarily valuable, and the more one uses it for higher purposes, the lower that proportion of pornography becomes. I think the appointment of a patron saint would send some very important signals."