The Vatican announced Thursday that it no longer would sell cigarettes to employees in its duty-free shop and supermarket — giving up an estimated 10 million euros ($11 million) a year in profit.
Francis made the decision because “the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that clearly damages the health of people,” the Vatican said. A statement cited the World Health Organization, which says smoking causes 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.