11:04pm UK, Tuesday March 15, 2005

The Vatican has appointed a top cardinal to respond to what it says are lies, distortions and errors in The Da Vinci Code.

It believes the best-selling thriller is a deliberate attempt to discredit the Catholic Church.

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Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

At the heart of the book is the notion the Church has for centuries concealed the fact Jesus married Mary Magdalene, a former prostitute, and she bore him a child.

The appointment of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Archbishop of Genoa, is being viewed as a sure sign the Vatican is rattled by the continuing success of Dan Brown's novel.

The book has sold 18 million copies in 44 languages in just two years.

It is still among the top ten bestsellers in the US, France, Brazil and Argentina - all countries with huge Catholic populations - and Britain.

The cardinal said the book reminded him of intemperate anti-clerical pamphlets of the 19th century.

He said he was distressed to discover even Catholic bookshops were selling it.

"We are clearly facing a formidable distribution strategy here," he said.

"The book is everywhere. There is a very real risk that many people who read it will believe that the fables it contains are true."

Cardinal Bertone will seek to debunk the conspiracy theories at the heart of the plot in a string of public debates.

:: A film based on the book, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, will be released in 2006.