According to multiple media outlets, The Vatican will end sales of cigarettes beginning in 2018 after Pope Francis ordered a countrywide ban, Reuters reports.
The Pope made the decision because of health concerns over smoking, a spokesman told Reuters.
“The motive is very simple: the Holy See cannot be cooperating with a practice that is clearly harming the health of people,” spokesman Greg Burke said in a statement to Reuters.
According to Reuters, Vatican employees are allowed to buy five cartons of cigarettes a month at a discount.
However, cigar sales will continue.