The Vatican announced today that it would no longer sell cigarettes to employees in its duty free shop and supermarket giving up an estimated 10 million euros (USD 11 million) a year in profits.
The Vatican said Francis took the decision because "the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that clearly damages the health of people."
A statement cited World Health Organization data finding that smoking is the cause of more than 7 million deaths annually around the globe.
A 2015 book based on leaked Vatican documents, "Avarice," reported that cigarette sales bring in an estimated 10 million euros a year to the Vatican City State and are the second-most important source of income after tax-free gas sales.