In the center of the Catholic Church, an oath ceremony of the Pope's new Swiss guard, which created the Vatican army, was held. How this ceremony is different from others and those who can become a warrior of the smallest armed forces in the world, the Parliament Newspaper understood, which the reporter visited the event.
For the first time in half a century
The annual ceremony led the vow of the rookies of the Swiss guards, as usual, under an empty battle, but this time with the abnormal presence of the Pope, appearing in the yard of San Damaso, in the center of the Apostle Palace. Since 1968, no pope has participated in this ancient military event. The last father, present at the Ceremony, is Pavel Vi, who has the official activity applied to military units deployed in the Vatican.
This time, only 23 rookies accepted the oath, much less than the past years. They stood in service, wearing a form that seemed to be guests from the Renaissance. Halberds shine in the sun, metals that reflect light, and yellow, red and yellow stripes turn the ceremony into a Raphael revival picture. Indeed, this time they vowed not as usual, on May 6, but later, because the period of Muslim invitation was falling on the original day, when a new pope was not chosen after Francis's death.
The “original” day is not selected by accident. On May 6, 1527, Swiss Canh soldiers recalled that the most tragic and heroic page in their history. On that day, the army of Emperor Charles V, who was rebelled by not paying salaries, exploded into Rome, turned Vinh Cuu city into a arena of robbery and violence. When the crowd of soldiers in the Vatican, 189 Swiss guards stood on the path of mercenaries. They knew that there was no chance, but they died, including Pope Clement VII's flight through the Passetto secret corridor that led to the castle of the Holy Angel. Of all the bodyguards, only 42 surviving warriors, the rest fell, fighting on the steps of St. Peter, but the Pope was saved and survived that siege. Since then, every year, on May 6, the rookies vowed to be ready to repeat this miracle.
New era, old oath
Along with Leo XIV, the ceremony was attended by ordinary cardinals, priests, civil and military officials, family members and friends, as well as charities and former bodyguards. The parade of solemnity, a fighter jet on this topic on the front uniform with bibs, slowly moving around the yard, exploiting one step. This is the memory of the Francis of Assisian, one, as the commander of Colonel Count emphasized, shows what the real great is: “It is not wealth or power, but modest, simple and love for all creatures.”
The ceremony began directly with silence. Chaplane of the guard walked forward, holding a roll in his hand with the text of the vow, which refers to the loyalty and dedication to the pope. His voice sounded solemn, filling the yard with words in German, Italian and French – the language of Swiss states, from which the rookies came. After that, one by one, the rookies approached the banners' banners – a symbol of a continuous tradition. The rookies took the axis by the left hand, and the right grew up, opened three fingers symbolizing the Trinity: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Later, the warriors made a promise: I vowed to serve accurately, dedicated and with the honor of the supreme pope climb XIV and his legal successors, as well as their powerful dedication – if necessary – even with their lives. Obedience.
Every detail of the ceremony, however, everything in the Vatican, is full of meaning. The form of guardians, often attributed to Michelangelo (although this is a legend) recalls the Renaissance – the era when the guard was created. Halberds, seemingly an exhibition of the museum, but in reality still serving, symbols of the continuity of traditions. The publicity of the ceremony is also very important. The vow is not pronounced in closed rooms, but in front of parents, guests and representatives of the church, and this year for the Pope itself!
And Leo XIV turned to young guardians himself with a speech. He thanked the small army for their very important evidence in the modern world for the importance of discipline, sacrifices and life in faith in a way that all young people, including the value of eliminating their lives.
Lifetime brotherhood
On the official's official website, there is an important phrase: once the Swiss guard is the Swiss guard forever, because even after the end of the service, the pope's warriors form a closed society, like a brotherhood, and it is not easy to participate in it. It is harder to become a Swiss guards rather than in many elite military units in the world.
Today, the number of security guards is 135 people – this is the maximum level established after strengthening safety measures in 2018 (previously about 110 fighter aircraft). Each year, 30-40 rookies are accepted, replacing people who have a service life expired. The structure of the guard is similar to the military: there are officers, the central and ordinary guards. Of the 135 people, about 85 people are ordinary soldiers with Halberds, that is, the very elegant soldiers that tourists see. The rest are commanders and narrow experts.
However, as Il Messaggero wrote, the guard recently had a problem with the photo series. To solve this problem, Swiss guard also started advertising his services on social networks. Today, young people do not build special plans for the future: they decide what to do in the last minute, and we have to adapt, the press service of the guard explains.
The reason for the shortage is the requirements of the Vatican, quite strict. The first of them is Swiss civic rights. No exception is made, even for the most worthy candidates from other countries. Another degree is age. You can become a guard at only 19 to 30 years old, and only an unmarried man can become him. After five years of service, a soldier could get married, but before that he was invited to completely devote himself to the Vatican.
Yes, of course, there are requirements for physical data. Growing at least 174 cm, physical development, military service in the Swiss army, perfect reputation, the available driving license and high school education. Yes, the most important – Recruitment should be Catholic!
Those who have passed the contract selection for at least 26 months. During this time, the newborn turns a recruiter into a true guardian, traditionally absorbed, the task, becoming a part of the brotherhood. The training is high intensity, among physical training, shooting, personal protection tactics, manual fighting. In parallel, the Swiss takes place in Italian language courses, the structural research of the Vatican, the church protocol, the characteristics of the rituals participated by the Pope.
The working day lasted on average six hours, but on special days – solemn masses, pope audiences, national heads of heads of state – can last up to twelve. The guards stood at the entrance articles, accompanied with the pope and brought security services. And always, anytime, they should be prepared from the ceremony bodyguards to turn into a fighting unit.
Pope's guardian
The guard performs a double function: ritual and security. On the one hand – a ritual uniform, the procession is solemn and frozen set at the entrance. On the other hand, modern weapons, Vip protection training, in collaboration with Italian security services. Despite having a clear ancient security guard of the guard, they have a modern weapon serving – Glock 19 pistols and SIG 550 rifles (STGW 90), as well as pistols with electric shock elements (basin).
Such preventive measures are not like that, because the bodyguards are not travel filmmakers, but the bodyguards that really protect their father from efforts. And there are many efforts to deprive the pope's life. For example, on November 27, 1970, at the Capital Airport of the Philippines, Manila Pavel VI, only left the plane, almost been cut by a knife of Father Beniamin Mendosa, the Beniamin Mendosa, who approached his father with a dagger and caused two shots that almost hit his throat. On May 13, 1981, a member of the Redendary Pantyurkist group of Türkiye, Gray Gray Wolves, Mehmet Ali Agja fired John Paul II many times, injuring him in the abdomen and hands. Dad survived, but a year later in the Temple of the Virgin Mary in Portugal Fatima, a man who was mentally imbalance once again tried to take his life, and was once again unsuccessful.
During the press conference, the representatives of the guard recently noted that instead of the threat of terrorism in recent years, the pope's guard has been recognized by a serious increase in the number of incidents with the participation of drunkenness, people with mental health problems and drug addicts. Now you can often see the guardians trying to bring those who are not completely enough for the senses. Two years ago, the whole world surrounded the news of a man, hurried at high speed, tried to overcome the gates of St. Anna and enter the Vatican. He is not a terrorist, but obviously in a crazy state.
However, after climbing XIV became a father, the guard had a new reason to care. In fact, when the Pope, standing in Papashobil, walking around St. It all started a few months ago, when a American boy joked in a joke to throw his father a baseball, which climbed XIV immediately to catch, showing a special clamp. The incident was not noticed, and the video scattered on social networks, causing some desire to repeat at the same time. The throws of objects have become more frequent and we don't know how to deal with it. It bothered us a bit. Of course, we are trained, and we also ensure that 99 % of dangerous objects are likely to be deleted by the Italian police at St. Square
Best is in front?
Although there is a bright story, there are many challenges before the guard. One of the main questions is the question of the participation of women in this elite unit. This problem has been expanded for a long time in the media. In 2009, the security commander Daniel Henrig said that in some certain cases of the guard, it may allow the weaker sex of Muslims. In 2022, the Reuters agency announced the news that the new barracks will be built so that women can be accepted there, and this year, a message appearing in the Swiss press that the facilities to store guards will still be designed to suit the common residence of men and women.
Therefore, even an ancient organization and does not seem to change like that, as the Swiss guard of the Vatican, is going through major changes. And the current rookies have been sworn in the new atmosphere. However, the main task of the smallest military in the world is hard to change, which means they will continue to perform their services and protect the pope.
