The Vatican said on Thursday that Francis signed a decree declaring that John Paul I had lived a life of heroic virtue.

The Vatican must confirm a miracle attributed to his intercession for the late pope to be beatified, and a second miracle for him to be made a saint.

Earlier in the week, a book titled Pope Luciani: Chronicle Of A Death went on sale in Italy.

It stated that John Paul I, the former Cardinal Albino Luciani, died of a heart attack at the age of 65.

The author, journalist Stefania Falasca, was involved in the beatification cause and had access to confidential Vatican documents, including John Paul’s medical file.

The book features a preface by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who said it was time to move on and appreciate John Paul I’s legacy and historic value to the Catholic Church.

Conspiracy theories have swirled for decades that Luciani was murdered in the Apostolic Palace as part of a plot involving the Vatican’s scandal-marred bank.

His September 28 1978 death led to the election a few weeks later of the Polish cardinal, Karol Wojtyla, who took inspiration from his predecessor and named himself Pope John Paul II.

A statement released on Thursday by Greg Burke, director of the Holy See press office, explained that the Holy See “cannot be cooperating with a practice that is clearly harming the health of people.”

The Vatican cited World Health Organization statistics which suggest that smoking causes more than seven million deaths worldwide every year.

Burke acknowledged that the sale of cigarettes has been a source of revenue for the Holy See.

Although Pope John Paul II banned smoking in the Vatican in 2002, cigarettes have been sold to Vatican employees and pensioners at reduced prices; they’ve been allowed to buy five cartons of cigarettes a month.

Taxes in Italy have caused cigarette costs to spike and it’s been reported that many citizens ask their non-smoking friends in the Vatican to purchase discounted cigarettes for them.

A 2015 book by Emiliano Fittipaldi claimed that the Vatican made an annual profit of $11.6 million from cigarette sales.

However, Burke said: “No profit can be legitimate if it puts lives at risk.”

He added that the sale of large cigars will continue for the time being at the Vatican because cigar smoke is not inhaled.

A church member told the Mirror about the moment 80 members of the choir at All Saints Church realised something serious was happening, as police snipers in balaclavas were spotted outside of the building on rooftops at around 8.20pm.

Jake Elsley, 21, said they continued singing for about ten minutes before realising they should try to “get out of the area”, ensuring they kept “away from the windows”.

Please pray. Were locked in the church. Shooting outside and armed police outside. This choir practice just got very scary

— Jake Elsley (@jakeelsley96) November 9, 2017

He said: “We were having a choir rehearsal and heard a helicopter overhead and could see blue flashing lights outside the church door.

“I kept seeing people in the doorway but had no idea what was going on.”

Armed police closed off parts of the Portobello Road and a helicopter used searchlights to help with the operation.

After Elsley and the group were evacuated, he tweeted about not being sure what the cause of the raid was.

Some are suggesting it was an anti-terror raid. We had a helicopter overhead, police outside the church door, and road was blocked both ends with unmarked cars. Was very freaky getting asked to move and lock all doors. We are safe – thank you all for your prayers and love

— Jake Elsley (@jakeelsley96) November 9, 2017

He said: “One of the leaders tells us that there are armed police outside… that we are to lock all doors and get away from the windows.

“[It] was…