Pope Francis in an unprecedented move has banned the sale of cigarettes at the Vatican, the seat of the Catholic Church in the world. The Vatican issued a statement on Thursday outlining the ban.
“The Holy Father has decided that the Vatican will cease to sell cigarettes to employees as of 2018,” the Vatican statement reads.
The statement goes on to give the reason for the ban, stating that Cigarettes were dangerous to the health of millions in the world.
“The reason is very simple: the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that clearly damages the health of people. Although the cigarettes sold to employees and pensioners in the Vatican at a reduced price are a source of revenue for the Holy See, no profit can be legitimate if it puts lives at risk,” the statement said.
The Vatican however does not ban alcohol which continues to be sold within the Holy See.
