Pope Benedict XVI is expected to denounce human greed and the idolatrous worship of money over God in a radical new document on social and economic affairs to be published in the next few weeks.

The encyclical will be the first written with the help of Google, The Times has learned.

Theologians have done months of research on the internet to ensure the new document, likely to be among the most important and influential of the present Papacy, is up to date with its economics as well as its theology.

Insiders say the Pope will challenge financial and economic models that he believes are responsible for the financial crisis in the West in the new encyclical, the most authoritative form of Papal document.

He will outline instead the moral and social arguments based on Catholic teaching for what must be done to bring about “truly free” human co-existence.

Vatican insiders say he will sign the last of his series of three encyclicals, Caritas in veritate - Love in Truth - on June 29, the feast of St Peter and St Paul. His first two encyclicals were on love or charity, and hope.

Publication might be delayed beyond that date however as translations into other languages are not yet complete.

The long-awaited encyclical, which will attempt to summarise the Church’s 120-year history of social teaching and outline new theories for the present situation, is understood to have been delayed to take into account the global recession.

It was also held back for months by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to ensure it was in line with economic as well as doctrinal principles. “They did not want to end up with egg on their faces,” said one insider.

Senior clergy at the congregation used the internet to research the writings of influential writers on the economy such as George Soros and Michael Novak. They read The Economist and other influential financial publications from around the world online to make sure they were up to date with latest theories, The Times has learned.

This will make it one of the most interesting documents to date to come out of the Holy See, not least because the Pope and his advisers are attempting to find an ethical way through a contemporary scene of chaos and devastation that has some of the best brains in economics close to bewilderment.

While not backtracking on the basic Catholic teaching that man should have the freedom to create wealth, the encyclical is likely to argue forcefully that this should be used towards the service of all.