In response to questions from journalists regarding the Pope’s decision to stop the sale of cigarettes to employees, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, has issued the following statement:

The Holy Father has decided that the Vatican will cease to cell cigarettes to employees as of 2018. The reason is very simple: the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that clearly damages the health of people. According to the World Health Organization, every year smoking is the cause of more than seven million deaths throughout the world.

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.