Vatican: 26 New Swiss Guards Join Oldest Standing Army

Swiss guards march prior to a swearing-in ceremony, at the Vatican, Sunday, May, 6, 2012. Twenty-six Swiss men have joined the oldest standing army in the world, swearing to give up their lives to protect the pope as the Vatican's newest Swiss Guards. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

VATICAN CITY -- Twenty-six Swiss men have joined the oldest standing army in the world, swearing to give up their lives to protect the pope as the Vatican's newest Swiss Guards.

The swearing-in ceremony took place Sunday inside the Vatican auditorium – a last-minute change due to rain. Usually it is held in the St. Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.

The ceremony is held each May 6 to commemorate the day in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome.

The guards, who sign up for a minimum of two years, must be upstanding, single, Swiss Catholic men under age 30. Famous for their blue-and-gold uniforms, halberds (spearlike weapons), and crimson-plumed helmets, they protect the pope, provide ceremonial duty and assist at Vatican functions.

Comments

[tamazul]

11:06 AM on 05/10/2012

They look sooooo "Conquistador."

[berkshireboy]

12:34 PM on 05/08/2012

Interesting story. I believe that their uniforms were designed by Michelangelo in the 1500's. I also have heard that it is now possible for women to become Swiss Guards.

[thorrsman]

05:31 PM on 05/08/2012

Don't know about the Swiss Guard, but I recall that the first woman was allowed into the elite "Beef-eater" that guard the Tower of London a year or two back.

[hagagaga]

11:33 AM on 05/10/2012

The Guards Division is five infantry regiments: the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, and Irish Guards. The Household Cavalry is two cavalry (tank) regiments: the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. As with the United States, females are not allowed in direct combat roles in the British Army (although there's a narrower definition of that, for example, artillery is considered a support role). Females have been allowed in the bands of those regiments for a while, but nothing more.

[hagagaga]

11:34 AM on 05/10/2012

It's been confirmed that females will likely be allowed in the future, but currently, there are no plans to do that.

[No7]

12:07 AM on 05/08/2012

...hope they have a little more class than our SS.....no..a LOT more class!!!....ours are bums...

[pezmusic]

12:59 AM on 05/08/2012

They do.

[Edwin Keever Jr]

11:14 PM on 05/07/2012

Does the Pope get free cheese?

[jneal11254]

10:43 PM on 05/07/2012

I had an interesting encounter with the Swiss Guards last year. I must say I found them practical, professional, and very thoughtful.

[Debra Martinez]

09:06 PM on 05/07/2012

What ever happen to UVA/SPF sunscreen....If he needed protection...

[YouAreWr0ng]

08:37 PM on 05/07/2012

Very interesting. I'd like to see the Vatican one day :]

[Bills Catz]

07:09 PM on 05/07/2012

Hmm, Swiss guards, Swiss bank accounts, Swiss confidentiality laws... Think there's a connection?

[thorrsman]

05:31 PM on 05/08/2012

No.

[srynmichael2]

06:17 PM on 05/07/2012

Grenadier Guards are better.

[Bills Catz]

07:10 PM on 05/07/2012

French Foreign Legion would do it...

[hagagaga]

11:35 AM on 05/10/2012

And the Old Guard is better than them.

[Red Leaves]

06:14 PM on 05/07/2012

As much as I despise the current Pope, I must say that the Swiss Guard are an impressive praetorian guard. I am left wondering if they are actually trained to fight with those halbreds, because those things are awfully dangerous in the hands of someone who knows how to use them.

[thorrsman]

07:06 PM on 05/07/2012

It wouldn't be the medieval weapons I'd worry about so much as the modern ones that they carry and you can't see.

[rcmpvice]

09:43 PM on 05/07/2012

and they are very thoroughly trained in modern combat tactics - they are not just for show.

[ANUBIS7336]

08:54 PM on 05/07/2012

. . . and such a good defense against bullets and bombs.

[belldn3]

06:23 PM on 05/07/2012

Looks like you a expecting a verbal beating. I won't be the one to give it to you.

[Bills Catz]

07:11 PM on 05/07/2012

All I could add to all that is the Pope is just another human being...

[Al Schrader]

05:17 PM on 05/07/2012

The Swiss guard are solid. The Vatican was started by Jesus' Desciple, Peter who was the first Pope. All of the other Popes have followed Peter in succession starting over 2,000 years ago, not something to be taken lightly. His Holiness Pope John Paul II built the Vatican Observatory (in Arizona), in part by proding from me. Some of the commenters on here have shown disrespect to His Holiness. I suggest they spend some time in church this Sunday and pay their respects to God and thank him for the blessings that they have.....Alfred-

[lrusch2]

07:00 PM on 05/07/2012

Peter was never a pope,nor was he ever in Rome. Why don't you read the Bible and history before you believe what is taught in the Catholic church. I grew up Catholic, believing that. It is absolutely not true. It's all Catholic beliefs, not actual history. Peter was crucified upside down for his stand for Christ.

[TVWilliams]

08:13 PM on 05/07/2012

Ok Dan Brown

[leonardstique1]

09:39 PM on 05/07/2012

I thought you said Peter was "never in Rome"
Where do you think he was crucified. While Christ did not confer the title "Pope" to Peter He did confer the office.\
The word "Babylon" that Peter used in his letter was a symbol for Rome.
You must have flunked catechism as well

[Bills Catz]

07:13 PM on 05/07/2012

Al, whatever works for you.

[bigpapapuff425]

10:35 PM on 05/07/2012

Al is a tad bit delusional.

[aspman07]

03:15 AM on 05/08/2012

Al always spouts nonsense.

[wesnwendy]

03:42 PM on 05/07/2012

That is 26 very stupid people.

[belldn3]

06:26 PM on 05/07/2012

Don't know about stupid, but their fashion sense I question.

[charlesrfd2003]

02:23 AM on 05/08/2012

Michelangelo designed the uniforms. They were considered loud and colorful then as now. Not very practical for modern warfare but recognizable to whole world. Rome of the middle ages and the modern Rome was a place to visit. The Swiss Guards parading is a good show for tourists. Great Pageantry !

[thorrsman]

07:07 PM on 05/07/2012

Your mirror gives you that many reflections?

[websailor]

02:11 PM on 05/07/2012

Please do not use the bible to defend the POPE that in its' self is disgraceful. Your explaination using quotes from the bible are wrong. Depending on which bible you use the words change depending on the group you belong to; it is only a guide line not a true translation.

[lastwarning2earth rev14]

05:11 PM on 05/07/2012

The Bible condems the pope.
He fits all the descriptions of the antichrist given in Daniel 7 and 8, and Rev.

[Red Leaves]

06:11 PM on 05/07/2012

Given enough finagling, practically anyone could fit the description of the Anti-Christ.

[rcmpvice]

09:47 PM on 05/07/2012

amen!

[gonro2]

07:09 PM on 05/07/2012

The Roman Catholic Church uses the Douay version of the Bible not the one that was changed in order so a king could divorce his wife and marry his mistress which is the version many read The King James

[CommonSense456]

08:58 PM on 05/07/2012

and most protestants dont use the king james version either. and the catholics teach things such as purgatory and limbo and such that are not in the Bible. and Jesus is the head of the church not any man

[rcmpvice]

09:47 PM on 05/07/2012

100% correct. I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day

[GretchenMann]

02:01 PM on 05/07/2012

Give one's life to save Mr. Ratzinger? Crazy! It just shows how religion muddles the mind.

[MJinCanada]

03:32 PM on 05/07/2012

Well they are bodyguards. Actually, the Swiss guards started as highly disciplined mercenary troops, loyal to those who hired them. Back in the days when there were rival factions fighting over control in Italy, the pope couldn't trust any Italian faction or his own countrymen for security. Ergo, the Vatican made a peace treaty with the Swiss states, which were increasingly Protestant, and hired mercenaries.

The kings of France also had Swiss bodyguards from the late Middle Ages up until the French Revolution.

The Byzantine emperors hired Norse, Danish and Saxon "vikings" (the Varangian Guard) a few hundred years earlier for the same reason -- well-paid neutral mercenaries are more trustworthy than friends or family when it comes to nearly world-dominating power.

[Bills Catz]

07:17 PM on 05/07/2012

This seems to be a case where they are STILL mercenaries -- can't let the biggest depositor in the free world come to harm. LOL

[hawkny]

09:21 PM on 05/26/2012

And the English hired the Hessians. So what?
These "guards" are a tourist attraction nothing more.....
.

[happyone6470]

04:41 PM on 05/07/2012

No different than a secret service agent giving his life for the President .