Officially, the Vatican has refused to comment, but one source said the silence was "actually because we are not sceptical". ... Yesterday (Monday) was supposed to be a chance for as many as 10,000 people, including visitors from Britain, to meet Brother Elia, 45, at the headquarters of the Jesuit movement in Naples. Now that Lent has begun, time is running out to see him before he takes to his bed over April to undergo his annual torment. Instead, his appearance was cancelled at the last minute by the Catholic Church, which is growing increasingly fearful about the rapid spread of Brother Elia's fame.

"We had to turn away 33 coaches of people," said a spokesman for the Apostles of God... ... "The whole of the south of Italy wanted to see him, but an order came down from the regional church that the permission for the meeting had been withdrawn." The Vatican is reported to have asked Brother Elia not to give interviews or to hold any public religious services until it has made up its mind on the veracity of his stigmata. "For the last four years, the Vatican has sent doctors to his bedside over Easter to find out whether he really does show stigmata. Some of them said he did, others said he didn't so we still do not have a conclusion," said the spokesman. Doctor Carlo Marcelletti, one of Italy's foremost heart surgeons who witnessed his suffering last year, said the phenomenon was "scientifically inexplicable". ... Brother Elia claims to have had his first vision of the Virgin Mary at age seven and claims he can talk to angels. ... His followers swear to his healing powers, and thousands queue outside his monastery from 3am every weekend. "The number of visitors keeps rising," said Silvano Lorenzoni, mayor of Calvi.