Tough times ahead for monsignors who smoke

VATICAN CITY -- The pope doesn't smoke, but some eminent monsignors have been known to light up.

Tough times are ahead for them as the Vatican is about to end its status as a heaven for smokers.

As of July 1, the Vatican announced Thursday, smoking will be banned on premises open to the public, in offices and in vehicles used by the public. Those caught smoking will be fined nearly $30.

The law, which was approved by Pope John Paul II, did not specify the places where smoking was banned but presumably they include the Vatican museum, post offices, pharmacy and other locations accessible to the public in the otherwise closed city-state.

While even Italy, which has been lax on enforcement of smoking bans, has begun to crack down, the Vatican has been letting smokers puff away.

Until this year, smoking was permitted aboard the pope's plane when he traveled abroad. While it is now banned, Alitalia still passes out cartons of cigarettes.

One of John Paul's closest aides, Monsignor Dino Monduzzi, was known to rush out of papal audiences to light up. Now retired, Monduzzi was elevated to cardinal by the pope four years ago.