The Papal Swiss Guard, or formally, the Corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, have been in service to the Pope for five centuries. Don’t be deceived by their colorful costumes though, because underneath all that lace and blue, yellow, orange and red striped uniform lies a dedicated soldier who will readily give his life for the Holy See.
While they’ll be happy to assist you and give you directions to where the nearest bathroom is, or why you can’t see the Pope, the Swiss guards’ main duty is to protect the Holy Father of the Catholic Church.
Getting to Know the Swiss Guards
Applicants for this elite group of soldiers have to undergo a strict and rigorous screening program. First off, a candidate must be single, a practicing (better staunch) Catholic, and hold at least a high school diploma. They must also be of Swiss citizenship and obtain certificates of good moral character while also having completed basic training with the Swiss military. They should also be at least 5 feet and 8 and a half inches tall, and be from 19 to 30 years of age.
Special Events for Swiss Guards
One of the ideal dates to go to Rome and see the Swiss guards is every 6th of May, where new guards are sworn in. This is a rare chance for you to see how the elite guards of old are sworn in for a sacred duty – and no duty could ever be more sacred than to serve the Pope. If you’re up to it, then best head to the San Damaso Courtyard.
May 6 is especially important to the Papal Swiss guards, as it marks the date of the Sack of Rome in the year 1527, where 147 loyal members of the corps lost their lives while defending Pope Clement VII.
And they are as elite as they come, with no more than 200 men comprising the whole force at a time – of whom half are officers serving under a commandant – serving at the Vatican at a time. And while they carry swords to preserve their honored tradition, they are well versed in the use of modern firearms as well.
Since the year 1800, the Swiss guards’ record in papal protection is unblemished, the most recent failed attempt on a Pope’s life being in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981, when Mehmet Ali Ağca, tried to kill Pope John Paul II but was foiled by an undercover Swiss guard.
An Art in Itself
On a lighter note, you might notice that the Swiss guards’ uniforms provide a strong contrast to the stone and marble façade of the buildings in the Vatican, enabling you to better appreciate the Baroque architecture that influenced its design and creation. They’re good to be in a picture with too.
Besides the obvious guard or sentry duty, you may also want to catch the guards in their daily marches and inspections, which is sure to make you feel like you aren’t in the 21st century anymore.
Truly, these Swiss guards are not only guardians of the Pope, but guardians of their own unique history as well, a history they bring to us here in the present.
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