New Swiss Guard recruits line up to take their oath
Keystone
The Pope’s personal army, the Swiss Guard, gained 40 new recruits on Saturday at the traditional swearing-in ceremony in the courtyard of the Papal Palace in the Vatican.
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The event is always held on May 6 each year, the date that commemorates the 147 Swiss soldiers who died defending Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527. On Saturday, the new recruits pledged their allegiance to Pope Francis.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, which was formed in 1506 by Pope Julius II, is the only Swiss military body permanently allowed to serve abroad since Switzerland’s official political stance of neutrality was established.
Swiss Guard members have to be Swiss, practising Roman Catholics, unmarried, between 19 and 30 years old and at least 1.74 metres tall.
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The Swiss soldiers guarding the pope
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“To be a Swiss Guard is a vocation. You need faith and deep conviction to follow this extraordinary and noble commitment,” says Colonel Christoph Graf, commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which was formed in 1506 by Pope Julius II. This year, 23 new recruits will take the oath in the Vatican. May 6 commemorates…
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Following the example set by Pope Francis in his desire for a more open Church, the Swiss Guard has opened its most private moments to the world through the lens of photographer Fabio Mantegna. The exhibition exposes the private life of the guards behind the Vatican walls – a life rarely seen by the public.…
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Lt. Col. Christoph Graf will now command the 500-year-old Papal Swiss Guard, replacing Col. Daniel Anrig, who had commanded the unit since 2008. Col. Graf, who comes from canton Lucerne, has been a member of the Swiss Guard since 1987. The formal transfer of power from Anrig to Graf took place a week ago. After…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.