Command of the Pontifical Swiss Guard 00120 Vatican City Phone +39 06 698 98100 Fax +39 06 698 85122 gsp(at)gsp.va. Information and Recruitment Centre Bernhard Messmer Messmer Personalmanagement GmbH Gemeindehausplatz 3 8750 Glarus Phone +41 55 640 82 24 rekrutierung(at)schweizergarde.ch
Swiss Guards failed to stop the Turkish national from hitting the Polish pope, though he survived. The event was a wake-up call for the papal bodyguards. Today they are all still Swiss citizens.
Officially termed the Pontifical Swiss Guard, The Swiss Guards represent a unique and historic military entity dedicated to the protection of the Pope and the Vatican City. This unit is often cited as one of the oldest and smallest armies globally, with a current membership of 135 as of 2024. The origins of the Swiss Guard:
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, established in 1506, is the world’s oldest standing military unit, originally recruited to protect the Pope and Vatican City. Recognizing these strengths, Swiss Bishop Matthäus Schiner proposed to Pope Julius II that a dedicated Swiss force should be responsible for the protection of the Vatican. With the ...
Origins of the Swiss Guard. The Swiss Guard began over 500 years ago. Pope Julius II called upon Swiss mercenaries, known for loyalty and courage, to protect the Vatican. They entered Rome on January 22, 1506. That date still marks the official founding of the Swiss Guard. Even today, guards must be Swiss citizens.
Swiss Guards - The Pope’s Mysterious Army 04/07/2025 April 7, 2025. It’s the smallest and most mysterious army in the world: the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is a historic military unit established in 1506 by Pope Julius II, serving as the personal bodyguard and ceremonial honor guard for the Pope and the Vatican City. Known as “the world’s smallest army,” it consists of about 135 men who protect the Pope, the Apostolic Palace, and the Vatican’s sacred sites. ...
In 1506, the first 150 Swiss soldiers arrived in Rome, marking the official birth of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Since then, this elite military unit has served with honor, becoming one of the oldest active military forces in the world. An Oath of Loyalty Unto Death.
In 1527, the Pontifical Swiss Guard experienced their first and most significant hostile engagement. On May 6, 147 of the 189-member corps died defending Pope Clement VII during the sack of Rome by Emperor Charles V of Spain. The last stand of these brave men, massacred on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, allowed the remaining guards to ...
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, also called Papal Swiss Guard (Latin: Cohors Helvetica or Cohors Pedestris Helvetiorum a Saca Custodia Pontificis), is an army maintained by the Holy See, responsible for the security service of the Pope, including the protection of the Apostolic Palace. In addition, the Pope’s bodyguards serve as military of the ...
Several strict criteria must be met before applying for the Pontifical Swiss Guard. In short, each recruit must be a single male of Swiss citizenship standing at least 174 cm (5’ 8 “) tall. They must be between 19 and 30 years old and hold a high school degree or professional diploma.
The Pontifical Swiss guards are the Vatican's official military in charge of security. Anyone who has watched the movie Angels & Demons recognizes the Pope's private guards wearing colorful attire. As their name implies, the Pontifical Swiss Guards are a militia of Swiss soldiers primarily responsible for guarding the Vatican.. The Vatican is the world's smallest country at 110 acres, but ...
The Pontifical Swiss Guard forms a company with the rank of regiment, whose effective personnel - composed of 135 elements - is fixed as follows: COMMISSIONED OFFICERS 1 Commander with the rank of Colonel; 1 Vice-Commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; 1 Chaplain equal in rank to Lieutenant Colonel;
The Swiss Guard, known for their traditional uniforms, are a modern security force trained to protect the pope from contemporary threats.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, established by Pope Julius II in 1506, is responsible for Vatican security together with the Vatican gendarmes. Tags: Catholic News, Vatican news,