Vatican Swiss Guard, Vatican City

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The Swiss Guard is an exception to the Swiss rulings of 1874 and 1927. It is a small force responsible for the security of the Apostolic Palace, the entrances to the Vatican City and the safety of the Pope. The Swiss Guard is not considered to belong to any larger force, but is instead the army of the sovereign state of the Vatican. The force is specifically limited to a hundred soldiers only and currently consists of 4 officers, 23 NCOs, 70 halberdiers, 2 drummers, and a chaplain, all with an equivalent Italian army rank. Although the guards are fully trained and equipped in modern weaponry and tactics, they also receive instructions in using the sword and halberd. The guards must be Roman Catholic males of Swiss nationality who have completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain certificates of good conduct. Recruits must be between 19 and 30 and at least 174 cm (5ft 9in) tall. Qualified candidates must apply to serve. If accepted, new guards are sworn in every May 6 in the San Damaso Courtyard (Italian: Cortile di San Damaso) in the Vatican. (May 6 is the anniversary of the Sacco di Roma, the plunder of Rome.) The chaplain of the guard reads aloud the oath in German, the guard's official language (translation below): "Ich schwöre, treu, redlich und ehrenhaft zu dienen dem regierenden Papst [Name des Papstes] und seinen rechtmäßigen Nachfolgern, und mich mit ganzer Kraft für sie einzusetzen, bereit, wenn es erheischt sein sollte, selbst mein Leben für sie hinzugeben. Ich übernehme dieselbe Verpflichtung gegenüber dem Heiligen Kollegium der Kardinäle während der Sedis-Vakanz des Apostolischen Stuhls. Ich verspreche überdies dem Herrn Kommandanten und meinen übrigen Vorgesetzten Achtung, Treue und Gehorsam. Ich schwöre, alles das zu beobachten, was die Ehre meines Standes von mir verlangt." "I swear to faithfully, honestly and honorably serve the Sovereign Pontiff, his Holiness Pope [name of the reigning Pope], and his legitimate successors, as well as to dedicate myself to them with all my strength, ready to sacrifice, should it become necessary, even my own life in their defense. I likewise assume this promise toward the members of the Sacred College during the period of the Sede Vacante. Furthermore, I pledge to the Commandant and to my other superiors respect, fidelity, and obedience. I swear to abide by all the requirements attendant to the dignity of my rank." When his name is called, each new guard approaches the Swiss Guard's flag, grasping the banner in his left hand. He raises his right hand with his thumb, index, and middle finger extended, a gesture that symbolizes the Holy Trinity and speaks: "Ich, [Name des Rekruten], schwöre, alles das, was mir soeben vorgelesen wurde, gewissenhaft und treu zu halten, so wahr mir Gott und seine Heiligen helfen." "I, [name of the new guard], swear to diligently and faithfully abide by all this which has just been read to me; may The Almighty and His Saints be my witnesses." The term of service is between two and 25 years. Their official dress uniform was altered in 1915. It is a jumpsuit which has a distinctly Renaissance appearance. It is colored in blue, red, orange, and yellow. A popular misconception is that these dress uniforms were designed by Michelangelo, but in fact this is untrue. Their routine garb is more functional, consisting of blue coveralls with a black beret. After the May 13, 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II by Mehmet Ali Agca, a much stronger emphasis has been made of the Swiss Guards' functional, non-ceremonial roles. This has included extended training in unarmed combat and with issue SIG pistols and Heckler and Koch submachine-guns. Pope Julius II founded the Guard in 1505 to provide a constant core of soldiers to protect the Pope; the Swiss mercenaries were an obvious choice. The official founding date is given as January 21, 1506. The force has varied greatly in size and has even been disbanded. The soldiers' most significant action was on May 6, 1527 when 147 Guards, including their commander, died fighting the forces of Charles V. Since 1859 they have been the only mercenary group permitted under Swiss law.

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