Convinced of its benefits, Cardinal Santacroce brought tobacco to Rome in 1561, according to information provided to the public by a newly opened Museum of the Tobacco Shop in Rome.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) World No Tobacco Day is observed every May 31 to highlight the harmful effects of tobacco on people s health and the environment.
Because of the growing evidence of its dangers, St. John Paul II first banned smoking inside all Vatican buildings, including private offices, corridors and any rooms open to the public in 2002. And Pope Francis banned the sale of cigarettes in Vatican City State in 2018. Cigars, for now, are still available.
But centuries ago, when tobacco and
Tobacco trails: How popes past, present influenced the plant s journey superiorcatholicherald.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from superiorcatholicherald.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Catholic Church played a major role in bringing tobacco to Italy, which is still the number one producer of raw tobacco in the European Union today.
Before I was more seasoned in the ways of beloved Italy, I would pay only a passing glance at the small, mysterious shops that sat modestly under the shadow of…