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The Pontifical Swiss Guard,; ; ; ; ,

%5BCorps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard%5D. ''vatican.va'' (in Italian). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
also known as the Papal Swiss Guard or simply Swiss Guard,Swiss Guards , History, Vatican, Uniform, Requirements, Weapons, & Facts , Britannica is an armed forces, guard of honour, and protective security unit, maintained by the
Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...
to protect the
Pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...
and the
Apostolic Palace The Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, located in Vatican City. It is also known as the Papal Palace, the Palace of the Vatican and the Vatican Palace. The Vatican itself refers to the build ...
within the territory of the
Vatican City State Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...
. Established in 1506 under
Pope Julius II Pope Julius II (; ; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death, in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope, the Battle Pope or the Fearsome ...
, it is among the oldest military units in continuous operation and is sometimes called "the world's smallest army". The Swiss Guard is recognised by its
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
-era
dress uniform Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is among the most formal wear, formal type of uniform used by military, police, firefighter, fire and other public uniformed services for official parade (mili ...
, consisting of a tunic striped in red, dark blue, and yellow; high plumed helmet; and traditional weapons such as the
halberd A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge), is a two-handed polearm that was in prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It may have a hook or ...
. Guardsmen perform their protective duties in functional attire and with modern firearms. Since the
assassination attempt This is a list of survivors of assassination attempts. For successful assassination attempts, see List of assassinations. Non-heads of state Heads of state and government Gallery File:Arrestation Gregori.jpg, Arrest of Louis Gregori, th ...
on
Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...
in 1981, the Guard has placed greater emphasis on its nonceremonial roles and has sought more training in anti-irregular military
counterintelligence Counterintelligence (counter-intelligence) or counterespionage (counter-espionage) is any activity aimed at protecting an agency's Intelligence agency, intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service. It includes gathering informati ...
, commando-style raids,
counter-sniper tactics Counter-sniper tactics have evolved in sniper warfare to reduce the effectiveness of snipers. Reducing the risk of damage During the stalking phase of their attack, a sniper will, if time allows, try to identify high-value targets, such as oth ...
,
counterterrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and Intelligence agency, intelligence ...
,
close-quarters battle Close-quarters battle (CQB), also called close-quarters combat (CQC), is a close combat situation between multiple combatants involving ranged (typically firearm-based) or melee combat. It can occur between military units, law enforcement and cr ...
, defusing and disposal of bombs, executive protection, hostage rescue, human intelligence,
medical evacuation Medical evacuation, often shortened to medevac or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to patients requiring evacuation or transport using medically equipped air ambulances, helicopters and ...
,
reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...
, tactical driving, tactical medical services, and tactical fast shooting by small arms. The Swiss Guard is considered an elite military unit. It is highly selective in its recruitment: candidates must be unmarried Swiss Catholic males between 19 and 30 years of age and at least 5 feet 8.5 inches (1.74 meters), who have completed basic training with the
Swiss Armed Forces The Swiss Armed Forces (; ; ; ; ) are the military and security force of Switzerland, consisting of land and air service branches. Under the country's militia system, regular soldiers constitute a small part of the military and the rest are ...
and hold a professional diploma or high school degree. As of 2024, there were 135 members. The Swiss Guard's security mission extends to the Pope's apostolic travels, the pontifical palace of
Castel Gandolfo Castel Gandolfo (, , ; ), colloquially known as Castello in the '' Castelli Romani'' dialects, is a town located southeast of Rome, in the Italian region of Lazio. Situated on a hilltop in the Alban Hills with panoramic views of Lake Albano, Cast ...
, and the
College of Cardinals The College of Cardinals (), also called the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church. there are cardinals, of whom are eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. Appointed by the pope, ...
when the papal throne is vacant. Though the Guard serve as watchmen of Vatican City, the overall security and law enforcement of the city-state is conducted by the
Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City The Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State (; ) is the gendarmerie, or military police and security force, of Vatican City, Holy See and its extraterritorial properties. It was founded in 1816 as Corps of Gendarmes by Pope Pius VII, renamed ...
, which is a separate body.


History


Italian Wars

The Pontifical Swiss Guard has its origins in the 15th century.
Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV (or Xystus IV, ; born Francesco della Rovere; (21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 until his death in 1484. His accomplishments as pope included ...
(1471–1484) had allied with the
Swiss Confederacy The Old Swiss Confederacy, also known as Switzerland or the Swiss Confederacy, was a loose confederation of independent small states (, German or ), initially within the Holy Roman Empire. It is the precursor of the modern state of Switzerlan ...
and built barracks in Via Pellegrino after foreseeing the possibility of recruiting
Swiss mercenaries The Swiss mercenaries were a powerful infantry force constituting professional soldiers originating from the cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy. They were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially among the military forces of th ...
. The pact was renewed by
Pope Innocent VIII Pope Innocent VIII (; ; 1432 – 25 July 1492), born Giovanni Battista Cybo (or Cibo), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 August 1484 to his death, in July 1492. Son of the viceroy of Naples, Cybo spent his ea ...
(1484–1492) in order to use Swiss troops against the Duke of Milan.
Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI (, , ; born Roderic Llançol i de Borja; epithet: ''Valentinus'' ("The Kingdom of Valencia, Valencian"); – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 August 1492 until his death ...
(1492–1503) later used the Swiss mercenaries during his alliance with the King of France. During the time of the
Borgias The House of Borgia ( ; ; Spanish language, Spanish and ; ) was a Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia, the surname being a Toponymic surname, toponymic from ...
, the
Italian Wars The Italian Wars were a series of conflicts fought between 1494 and 1559, mostly in the Italian Peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and Mediterranean Sea. The primary belligerents were the House of Valois, Valois kings o ...
began, in which the Swiss mercenaries were a fixture on the front lines among the warring factions, sometimes for France, and sometimes for the Holy See or the
Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...
. The mercenaries enlisted when they heard King
Charles VIII of France Charles VIII, called the Affable (; 30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498), was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13. His elder sister Anne acted as regent jointly with her husband Peter II, Du ...
was going to war with Naples. Among the participants in the war against Naples was Cardinal
Giuliano della Rovere Pope Julius II (; ; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death, in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope, the Battle Pope or the Fearsome ...
, the future
Pope Julius II Pope Julius II (; ; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death, in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope, the Battle Pope or the Fearsome ...
(1503–1513), who was well acquainted with the Swiss, having been
Bishop of Lausanne The Bishop of Lausanne (French: ''Évêque de Lausanne'') was the principal ecclesiastical authority of the Catholic Diocese of Lausanne (Latin: ''Dioecesis Lausannensis''). History King Rudolphe I of Burgundy granted the Church of Lausanne ...
years earlier. The expedition failed, in part thanks to new alliances made by
Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI (, , ; born Roderic Llançol i de Borja; epithet: ''Valentinus'' ("The Kingdom of Valencia, Valencian"); – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 August 1492 until his death ...
against the French. When Cardinal della Rovere became Pope Julius II in 1503, he asked the
Swiss Diet The Federal Diet of Switzerland (, ; ; ) was the legislative and executive council of the Old Swiss Confederacy and existed in various forms from the beginnings of Swiss independence until the formation of the Switzerland as a federal state, ...
to provide him with a constant corps of 200 Swiss mercenaries. This was made possible through financing by German merchants from
Augsburg Augsburg ( , ; ; ) is a city in the Bavaria, Bavarian part of Swabia, Germany, around west of the Bavarian capital Munich. It is a College town, university town and the regional seat of the Swabia (administrative region), Swabia with a well ...
, Ulrich, and
Jacob Fugger Jakob Fugger ''of the Lily'' (; 6 March 1459 – 30 December 1525), also known as Jakob Fugger ''the Rich'' or sometimes Jakob II, was a major Germans, German merchant, mining entrepreneur, and banker. He was a descendant of the Fugger merchant f ...
, who had invested in the Pope and saw fit to protect their investment. In September 1505, the first contingent of 150 soldiers departed on foot to Rome, under the command of Kaspar von Silenen. They entered the city on 22 January 1506, now regarded as the official date of the Guard's foundation. "The Swiss see the sad situation of the Church of God, Mother of Christianity, and realize how grave and dangerous it is that any tyrant, avid for wealth, can assault with impunity, the common Mother of Christianity," declared the Swiss theologian
Huldrych Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swis ...
, who later became a Protestant reformer. Pope Julius II later granted the Guard the title "Defenders of the Church's freedom". The force has varied greatly in size over the years and on occasion has been disbanded and reconstituted. Its most significant hostile engagement came on 6 May 1527 during the Sack of Rome. As troops of
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) fr ...
advanced, 147 of the 189 Guards, including their commander
Caspar Röist Caspar Röist (13 July 1478 – 6 May 1527) was a Swiss papal official and commander of the papacy's Swiss Guard. He died whilst commanding it in its last stand during the sack of Rome in 1527. A native of Zürich, and son of mayor of Z ...
, died fighting to allow
Clement VII Pope Clement VII (; ; born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici; 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 November 1523 to his death on 25 September 1534. Deemed "the most unfortunate of ...
to escape through the
Passetto di Borgo The Passetto di Borgo, or simply Passetto, is an elevated passage that links the Vatican City with the Castel Sant'Angelo. It is an approximately corridor, located in the rione of Borgo. It was erected in 1277 by Pope Nicholas III, but part ...
, escorted by the other 42 guards. The last-stand battlefield is located on the southern side of
St. Peter's Basilica The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (), or simply St. Peter's Basilica (; ), is a church of the Italian High Renaissance located in Vatican City, an independent microstate enclaved within the city of Rome, Italy. It was initiall ...
, close to the
Campo Santo Teutonico The Teutonic Cemetery (, "Camposanto of the Teutons and the Flemish") is a burial site in Rome adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica. Burial is reserved for members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of the German Cemetery, which owns the cemetery. It ...
(German Graveyard). Clement VII was forced to replace the depleted Swiss Guard with a contingent of 200 German mercenaries (''Custodia Peditum Germanorum''). In 1537,
Pope Paul III Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era follo ...
ordered the Swiss Guard to be reinstated and sent Cardinal Ennio Filonardi to oversee recruitment. Anti-papal sentiment in Switzerland hindered recruitment. In 1548, the papacy reached an agreement with the mayor of Lucerne, Nikolaus von Meggen, to swear-in 150 new Swiss Guardsmen under commander Jost von Meggen, the mayor's nephew.


Early modern history

After the end of the Italian Wars, the Swiss Guard ceased to be used as a military combat unit in the service of the Pope and its role became mostly that of the protection of the person of the Pope and of an
honour guard A guard of honour (Commonwealth English), honor guard (American English) or ceremonial guard, is a group of people, typically drawn from the military, appointed to perform ceremonial duties – for example, to receive or guard a head of state ...
. However, twelve members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard of
Pius V Pope Pius V, OP (; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (and from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 7 January 1566 to his death, in May 1572. He was an ...
served as part of the
Swiss Guard The Pontifical Swiss Guard,; ; ; ; , %5BCorps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard%5D. ''vatican.va'' (in Italian). Retrieved 19 July 2022. also known as the Papal Swiss Guard or simply Swiss Guard,Swiss Guards , History, Vatican, Uniform, Require ...
of admiral
Marcantonio Colonna Marcantonio II Colonna (sometimes spelled Marc'Antonio; 1535 – August 1, 1584), Duke of Tagliacozzo and Duke and Prince of Paliano, was an Italian aristocrat who served as Viceroy of Sicily in the service of the Spanish Crown, general of ...
at the
Battle of Lepanto The Battle of Lepanto was a naval warfare, naval engagement that took place on 7 October 1571 when a fleet of the Holy League (1571), Holy League, a coalition of Catholic states arranged by Pope Pius V, inflicted a major defeat on the fleet of t ...
in 1571. The office of commander of the Papal Guard came to be a special honour in the Catholic region of the
Swiss Confederacy The Old Swiss Confederacy, also known as Switzerland or the Swiss Confederacy, was a loose confederation of independent small states (, German or ), initially within the Holy Roman Empire. It is the precursor of the modern state of Switzerlan ...
. It became strongly associated with the leading family of
Lucerne Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...
, Pfyffer von Altishofen, a family which between 1652 and 1847 provided nine out of ten of the commanders. The exception was Johann Kaspar Mayr von Baldegg, of Lucerne, who served 1696–1704. In 1798, commander Franz Alois Pfyffer von Altishofen went into exile with the deposed
Pius VI Pope Pius VI (; born Count Angelo Onofrio Melchiorre Natale Giovanni Antonio called Giovanni Angelo or Giannangelo Braschi, 25 December 171729 August 1799) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1775 to hi ...
. After the death of the Pope on 29 August 1799, the Swiss Guard was disbanded and then reinstated by
Pius VII Pope Pius VII (; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823) was head of the Catholic Church from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. He ruled the Papal States from June 1800 to 17 May 1809 and again ...
in 1800. In 1809, Rome was again captured by the French and the guard was again disbanded. Pius VII was exiled to Fontainebleau. The guard was reinstated in 1814, when the Pope returned from exile, under the previous commander Karl Leodegar Pfyffer von Altishofen.


Modern history

The guard was disbanded in 1848, when
Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...
fled to
Gaeta Gaeta (; ; Southern Latian dialect, Southern Laziale: ''Gaieta'') is a seaside resort in the province of Latina in Lazio, Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is from Rome and from Naples. The city has played ...
. In 1849, it was reinstated when the Pope returned to Rome. After the Piedmontese invasion of Rome, the Swiss Guard declined in the later 19th century into a purely ceremonial body with low standards. Guards on duty at the Vatican were "Swiss" only in name, mostly born in Rome to parents of Swiss descent and speaking the
Roman dialect Romanesco () is one of the Central Italian dialects spoken in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, especially in the Rome, core city. It is linguistically close to Tuscan dialect, Tuscan and Italian language, Standard Italian, with some notable ...
. The guards were trained solely for ceremonial parade, kept only a few obsolete rifles in store and wore civilian dress when drilling or in barracks. Administration, accommodation, discipline and organization were neglected and the unit numbered only about 90 men out of an authorized establishment of 133. The modern Swiss Guard is the product of the reforms pursued by
Jules Repond Jules Maxime Repond (1853–1933) was a Swiss lawyer and law professor, writer and journalist, politician, entrepreneur and military officer. He served as commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard for eleven years, during 1910 to 1921. He was the ...
, commander during the years 1910–1921. Repond proposed recruiting only native citizens of Switzerland, and he introduced rigorous military exercises. He attempted to introduce modern arms, but Pius X permitted the presence of firearms only if they were not functional. Repond's reforms and strict discipline were not well received by the corps, culminating in a week of open mutiny in July 1913, and the subsequent dismissal of thirteen ringleaders from the guard. In his project to restore the Swiss Guard to its former prestige, Repond dedicated himself to the study of historical costume, with the aim of designing a new uniform that would be both reflective of the historical Swiss costume of the 16th century and suited for military exercise. The result of his studies was published in 1917 as . Repond designed the distinctive Renaissance-style uniforms worn by the modern Swiss Guard. The introduction of the new uniforms was completed in May 1914. In 1929, the foundation of
Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...
as a modern sovereign state was effected by the
Lateran Treaty The Lateran Treaty (; ) was one component of the Lateran Pacts of 1929, agreements between Italy under Victor Emmanuel III and Benito Mussolini and the Holy See under Pope Pius XI to settle the long-standing Roman question. The treaty and ass ...
, negotiated between the
Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...
and Italy. The duties of protecting public order and security in the Vatican lay with the Papal Gendarmerie Corps, while the Swiss Guard, the
Palatine Guard The Palatine Guard () was a military unit of Holy See, the Vatican. It was formed in 1850 by Pope Pius IX, who ordered that the two militia units of the Papal States be amalgamated. The corps was formed as an infantry unit, and took part in watch ...
and the
Noble Guard The Noble Guard () was one of the household guard units serving the Pope, and formed part of the military in Vatican City. It was formed by Pope Pius VII in 1801 as a regiment of heavy cavalry, and abolished in 1970 by Pope Paul VI following Vat ...
served mostly ceremonial functions. In 1970, the Palatine and Noble Guards were disbanded by
Paul VI Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...
, leaving the Swiss Guard as the only ceremonial guard unit of the Vatican. At the same time, the Gendarmerie Corps was transformed into a central security office, with the duties of protecting the Pope, defending Vatican City, and providing police and security services within its territory, while the Swiss Guard continued to serve ceremonial functions only. In June 1976, Paul VI in a decree defined the nominal size of the corps at 90 men. In April 1979, this was increased to 100 men by John Paul II . As of 2010 the guard numbered 107 halberdiers, divided into three squads, with commissioned and non-commissioned officers. Since the assassination attempt on John Paul II of 13 May 1981, a much stronger emphasis has been placed on the guard's non-ceremonial roles. The Swiss Guard has developed into a modern guard corps equipped with modern small arms. Members of the Swiss Guard in plain clothes now accompany the Pope on his travels abroad for his protection. On 4 May 1998 commander
Alois Estermann Alois Estermann (29 October 1954 – 4 May 1998) was a Swiss military officer. He served as the 31st Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Estermann and his wife were murdered in his apartment in Vatican City on 4 May 1998, the same day he ...
was murdered on the day of his promotion. Estermann and his wife, Gladys Meza Romero, were killed by the young guardsman Cédric Tornay, who later committed suicide. The case received considerable public attention and became the subject of a number of conspiracy theories alleging
Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
politics or involvement by the
Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church that was founded in Spain in 1928 by Josemaría Escrivá. Its stated mission is to help its lay and clerical members seek holiness in their everyday occupations and societies. Opus Dei is officially r ...
prelature. British journalist John Follain, who published a book on the case in 2006, concluded that the killer acted purely out of personal motives. In 2002, the first non-white Swiss Guard joined the militia. In April–May 2006, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Swiss Guard, 80 former guardsmen marched from
Bellinzona Bellinzona ( , ; ; is a municipality, a List of towns in Switzerland, historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its Three Castles of Bellinzona, three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sa ...
in southern Switzerland to Rome, recalling the march of the original 200 Swiss guards to take up Papal service in 1505. The march had been preceded by other celebrations in
Lucerne Lucerne ( ) or Luzern ()Other languages: ; ; ; . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the Lucerne (district), di ...
, including a rally of veterans of the Guard and a Mass. In a public ceremony on 6 May 2006, 33 new guards were sworn in on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica, instead of the traditional venue in the San Damaso Courtyard. The date chosen marked the anniversary of the Sack of Rome when the Swiss Guard was nearly destroyed. Present at this event were representatives of the
Company of Pikemen and Musketeers The Company of Pikemen and Musketeers is a ceremonial company (military unit), unit of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC), which provides a regiment for the Army Reserve and is associated with the City of London. The HAC is the oldest regiment ...
of the
Honourable Artillery Company The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a reserve regiment in the British Army. Incorporated by royal charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII, it is the oldest regiment in the British Army and is considered the second-oldest military unit in the w ...
of London and the
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in North America and the third oldest chartered military organization in the world. A volunteer militia of the Commonwealth of Massachusett ...
. In December 2014,
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
directed that
Daniel Anrig Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig (born 10 July 1972) is a Swiss military officer and police officer. He served as the 34th Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 August 2008. He replaced Elmar Mäder who had ...
's term as commander should end on 31 January 2015, and that he be succeeded by his deputy
Christoph Graf Colonel Christoph Graf (born 5 September 1961) is a Swiss military officer. He serves as the 35th Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, appointed by Pope Francis on 7 February 2015, succeeding Colonel Daniel Anrig. Biography Graf was born ...
. This followed reports about Anrig's "authoritarian style". In 2015, with the rise of
Islamic terrorism Islamic terrorism (also known as Islamist terrorism, radical Islamic terrorism, or jihadist terrorism) refers to terrorist acts carried out by fundamentalist militant Islamists and Islamic extremists. Since at least the 1990s, Islami ...
in Europe and open threats against the Vatican issued by the Islamic State (ISIS), Vatican officials collaborated with Italian authorities to improve the protection of Vatican City against attacks that cannot be reasonably defended against by the Swiss Guard and Vatican Gendarmerie, notably against drone attacks. In October 2019, the Swiss Guard was expanded to 135 men. Previously, according to article 7 of the regulations, the Swiss Guard was made up of 110 men. File:Hortense Haudebourt-Lescot - A Swiss guard.jpg, A member of the Swiss Guard during the reign of
Pius VII Pope Pius VII (; born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti; 14 August 1742 – 20 August 1823) was head of the Catholic Church from 14 March 1800 to his death in August 1823. He ruled the Papal States from June 1800 to 17 May 1809 and again ...
, 1811, by
Hortense Haudebourt-Lescot Hortense Haudebourt-Lescot, born Antoinette Cécile Hortense Viel (14 December 1784 – 2 January 1845), was a French painter, mainly of Genre art, genre and historical scenes. Biography She was born in Paris to Jean-Baptiste Viel, a perfumer, a ...
File:Knielend saluut van de wacht in de Sala Clementina één van de audiëntiezalen op , Bestanddeelnr 191-1308.jpg, Kneeling salute in Clementine Hall, 1937 File:Peloton marcheert in exercitie-tenue met geweer, Bestanddeelnr 190-0984.jpg, Marching in exercise uniform with
Gewehr 98 The Gewehr 98 (abbreviated ''G98'', Gew 98, or ''M98'') is a bolt-action rifle made by Mauser for the German Empire as its service rifle from 1898 to 1935. The Gewehr 98 action, using a 5-round stripper clip loaded with the 7.92×57mm Mauser ...
rifles, 1938 File:Garde suisse (Vatican) (5994412883).jpg, A member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard with
halberd A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge), is a two-handed polearm that was in prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It may have a hook or ...
, 2011


Recruitment and service

Recruits to the guards must be
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
, single males with Swiss citizenship who have completed high school at least,
basic training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique dema ...
with the
Swiss Armed Forces The Swiss Armed Forces (; ; ; ; ) are the military and security force of Switzerland, consisting of land and air service branches. Under the country's militia system, regular soldiers constitute a small part of the military and the rest are ...
, and of irreproachable reputation and health. Recruits must be between 19 and 30 years of age, at least tall, and prepared to sign up for at least 26 months. In 2009, Pontifical Swiss Guard commandant
Daniel Anrig Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig (born 10 July 1972) is a Swiss military officer and police officer. He served as the 34th Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 August 2008. He replaced Elmar Mäder who had ...
suggested that the Guard might be open to recruiting women far in the future. Guards are permitted to marry after five years of service. Qualified candidates must apply to serve. Those who are accepted serve for a minimum of 26 months. Regular guardsmen (halberdiers) were paid a tax-free salary of €1,300 per month plus
overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways: *by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...
in 2006. Accommodation and board are provided. Members of the guard are eligible for pontifical decorations. The
Benemerenti medal The Benemerenti Medal (, ) is a medal awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. Originally established as an award for soldiers in the Papal Army, it is now a civil decoration but may still be awa ...
is usually awarded after three years of faithful service.


Oath ceremony on 6 May

If accepted, new guards are sworn in every year on 6 May, the anniversary of the Sack of Rome, in the San Damaso Courtyard () in the Vatican. The
chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...
of the guard reads aloud the full
oath of allegiance An oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to a monarch or a country. In modern republics, oaths are sworn to the country in general, or to the country's constitution. For ...
in the command languages of the Guard (German, Italian, and French): When his name is called, each new guard approaches the Pontifical Swiss Guard's
flag A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular) with distinctive colours and design. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and fla ...
, grasping the banner in his left hand. He raises his right hand with his thumb, index, and middle finger extended along three axes, a gesture that symbolizes the
Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...
and the Rütlischwur, and swears the oath in his native tongue. This may be any of the four official
languages of Switzerland The four national languages of Switzerland are German language, German, French language, French, Italian language, Italian, and Romansh language, Romansh. German, French, and Italian maintain equal status as official languages at the national ...
. German is the most common, with over 60% of the Swiss population speaking it. Speakers of the various dialects of the Romansh language are rare, at under 1% of the population. In 2021, 34 new guards were sworn in, 23 with a German language oath, 2 in Italian, 8 in French and 1 in Romansh.


Uniforms

The
full dress uniform Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is among the most formal wear, formal type of uniform used by military, police, firefighter, fire and other public uniformed services for official parade (mili ...
is of blue, red, orange and yellow with a distinctly
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
appearance. It was introduced by commandant
Jules Repond Jules Maxime Repond (1853–1933) was a Swiss lawyer and law professor, writer and journalist, politician, entrepreneur and military officer. He served as commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard for eleven years, during 1910 to 1921. He was the ...
in 1914, inspired by 16th-century depictions of the Swiss Guard. An early precursor of the modern Pontifical Swiss Guard uniform can be seen in a 1577 fresco by Jacopo Coppi of the Empress Eudoxia conversing with
Pope Sixtus III Pope Sixtus III, also called Pope Xystus III, was the bishop of Rome from 31 July 432 to his death on 18 August 440. His ascension to the papacy is associated with a period of increased construction in the city of Rome. His feast day is celebrate ...
. The bearded figure in the center left is wearing clothing similar to today's recognisable three-colored uniform, with boot covers, white gloves, a high or
ruff collar Ruff may refer to: Places *Ruff, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community *Ruff, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community Other uses *Ruff (bird) (''Calidris pugnax'' or ''Philomachus pugnax''), a bird in the wader famil ...
, and either a
black beret Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Montgomery wearing his black beret The black beret is a coloured beret, commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as th ...
or
comb morion A morion (Spanish: ''morrión'') ( Catalan: ''morrió'') is a type of open-faced combat helmet originally from Spain, used from the beginning of the 16th century to the early-17th century. The morion usually had a flat brim and a crest running ...
, usually black but silver-coloured for high occasions. Sergeants wear a black top with crimson leggings. Other officers wear an all-crimson uniform. The colors blue and yellow were in use from the 16th century, said to be chosen to represent the
Della Rovere The House of Della Rovere (; literally "of the oak tree") was a powerful Italian noble family. It had humble origins in Savona, in Liguria, and acquired power and influence through nepotism and ambitious marriages arranged by two Della Rovere p ...
coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...
of Julius II, with red added to represent the
Medici The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th ...
coat of arms of
Leo X Pope Leo X (; born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, 11 December 14751 December 1521) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 March 1513 to his death in December 1521. Born into the prominent political and banking Me ...
. The ordinary guardsmen and the vice-corporals wear the "tricolor", yellow, blue and red uniform, without any rank distinctions except for a different model of
halberd A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge), is a two-handed polearm that was in prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It may have a hook or ...
in gala dress. The
corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...
s have red braid insignia on their cuffs and use a different, more spear-like, halberd. Headwear is typically a large black beret for daily duties, such as guard duty or
drill A drill is a tool used for making round holes or driving fasteners. It is fitted with a drill bit for making holes, or a screwdriver bit for securing fasteners. Historically, they were powered by hand, and later mains power, but cordless b ...
. A black or silver
morion helmet Morion may refer to: * Morion (helmet), a type of military helmet * Morion (mineral), a variety of smoky quartz * ''Morion'' (beetle), a genus of beetles in the family Carabidae Ground beetles are a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles, t ...
with red, white, yellow, black, and purple
ostrich feather A plume is a special type of bird feather, possessed by egrets, ostriches, birds of paradise, quetzals, pheasants, peacocks and quails. They often have a decorative or ornamental purpose, commonly used among marching bands and the military ...
s is worn for ceremonial duties, such as the annual swearing-in ceremony, or a reception of foreign heads of state. Historically, brightly colored
pheasant Pheasants ( ) are birds of several genera within the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera's native range is restricted to Eura ...
or
heron Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 75 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genus ''Botaurus'' are referred to as bi ...
feathers were used. Senior non-commissioned and warrant officers have a different type of uniform. All sergeants have essentially the same pattern of dress as ordinary guardsmen, but with black tunics and red
breeches Breeches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Western men's ...
. Each sergeant has a red plume on his helmet. The sergeant major displays distinctive white feathers. When the gala uniform is worn, sergeants have a different pattern of armor with a gold cord across the chest. The
commissioned officers An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent c ...
, captains, major, vice-commander and commander, have a completely red uniform with a different style of breeches, and golden embroidery on the sleeves. They have a longer sword, which is used when commanding a group or a squadron of guards. In gala dress, all ranks wear a bigger purple plume on their helmets. The commander wears a white one. Usually the commander and the chief of staff, usually the vice-commander, use armor when present at gala ceremonies. On such occasions "armor complete" – including sleeve armor, is worn. Except for ceremonial occasions and exercises, officers of the guard wear civilian dress when on duty. The modern regular duty
service dress uniform Service dress uniform is the informal type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday office, barracks and non-field duty purposes and sometimes for ceremonial occasions. It frequently consists of a ...
is more functional, consisting of a simpler solid blue version of the more colorful tricolor grand gala uniform, worn with a simple brown belt, a flat white collar and a black beret. For new recruits and rifle practice, a simple light blue
overall Overalls or bib-and-brace overalls, also called dungarees in British English, are a type of garment usually used as protective clothing when working. The garments are commonly referred to as a "pair of overalls" by analogy with "pair of trousers ...
with a brown belt may be worn. During cold or inclement weather, a dark blue
cape A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment of any length that hangs loosely and connects either at the neck or shoulders. They usually cover the back, shoulders, and arms. They come in a variety of styles and have been used th ...
is worn over the regular uniform.


Manufacture

The tailors of the Swiss Guard work inside the Vatican barracks. There, the uniform for each guardsman is tailor-made individually. The total set of Renaissance style clothing weighs , and may be the heaviest and most complicated uniform in use by any standing army today. A single uniform requires 154 pieces and takes nearly 32 hours and 3 fittings to complete. They are made of high-quality wool exclusively sourced from the town of
Biella Biella (; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the northern Italy, Italian region of Piedmont, the capital of the Province of Biella, province of the same name, with a population of 44,324 as of 31 December 2017. It is located about northeast of ...
. In 2019, after more than 500 years, the Swiss Guard replaced its traditional metal helmet with a new version made of
PVC Polyvinyl chloride (alternatively: poly(vinyl chloride), colloquial: vinyl or polyvinyl; abbreviated: PVC) is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic (after polyethylene and polypropylene). About 40 million tons o ...
, with hidden air vents, which requires just one day to make, compared to several days for the metal model. Guards are forbidden from selling their suit. While they can keep the uniform after five years of service, they are contractually obliged to either be buried with the uniform or pass it on to a specific Swiss Guard association.


Equipment


Bladed weapons

The eponymous main weapon of the ''halbardiers'' is the
halberd A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge), is a two-handed polearm that was in prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It may have a hook or ...
. Corporals and vice-corporals are equipped with a
partisan Partisan(s) or The Partisan(s) may refer to: Military * Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line ** Francs-tireurs et partisans, communist-led French anti-fascist resistance against Nazi Germany during WWII ** Ital ...
polearm. Ranks above corporal do not have polearms, but on certain ceremonial occasions carry command batons. The banner is escorted by two flamberge great swords carried by corporals or vice-corporals. A
dress sword __NoTOC__ The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, Gaelic: or claybeg, French: , lit. “Sword of the court”) is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier (''espada ropera'') of ...
is carried by all ranks, swords with a simple S-shaped crossguard by the lower ranks, and elaborate basket-hilt
rapier A rapier () is a type of sword originally used in Spain (known as ' -) and Italy (known as '' spada da lato a striscia''). The name designates a sword with a straight, slender and sharply pointed two-edged long blade wielded in one hand. It wa ...
s in the early baroque style by officers. Arms and armor used by the Swiss Guard are kept in the (armory). The also contains a collection of historical weapons no longer in use. The armory holds a collection of historical
plate armor Plate armour is a historical type of personal body armour made from bronze, iron, or steel plates, culminating in the iconic suit of armour entirely encasing the wearer. Full plate steel armour developed in Europe during the Late Middle Ages, e ...
,
cuirass A cuirass ( ; ; ) is a piece of armour that covers the torso, formed of one or more pieces of metal or other rigid material. The term probably originates from the original material, leather, from the Old French word and the Latin word . The us ...
es or half-armor. The oldest specimens date to c. 1580, while the majority originates in the 18th century. Historical armor was worn during canonizations until 1970. Since then, their use has been limited to the oath ceremony on 6 May. A full set of replicas of the historical cuirasses was commissioned in 2012, from in
Molln Molln is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. It is remembered as a place where there was a poacher battle in 1919 and four people were shot and killed. Geography Molln lies in the Trau ...
,
Upper Austria Upper Austria ( ; ; ) is one of the nine States of Austria, states of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg (state), Salzbur ...
. The cuirasses are handmade, and the production of a single piece takes about 120 hours. The replicas are not financed by the Vatican, but by private donations via the Foundation for the Swiss Guard in the Vatican, a
Fribourg or is the capital of the Cantons of Switzerland, Swiss canton of Canton of Fribourg, Fribourg and district of Sarine (district), La Sarine. Located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss Plateau, it is a major economic, adminis ...
-based organisation established in 2000.


Firearms

In the 19th century, prior to 1870, the Swiss Guard along with the
Papal Army The Papal States ( ; ; ), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th c ...
used firearms with special calibres, such as the 12.7 mm Remington Papal. The Swiss Guard has a tradition of importing Swiss arms for familiarity matters. As recruits to the Swiss Guard must have undergone basic military training in Switzerland, they are already familiar with these weapons when they begin their Swiss Guard service. The
pepper spray Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum spray, OC spray, capsaicin spray, mace, or capsicum spray is a Tear gas, lachrymator (tear gas) product containing as its active ingredient the chemical compound capsaicin, which irritates the eyes with burning ...
used by the Swiss Army is RSG-2000.


Ranks

As of 2024 the 135 members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard were: ; 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 *1 Major *2 Captains *3 Lieutenants, rank introduced in December 2020. ; Non-commissioned officers *1 Sergeant Major *9 Sergeants *14 Corporals *17 Vice-Corporals. ;Troop *85 Halberdiers. The names of the current officers and sergeant-major are listed on the Guard's website.


Insignia

;Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of
commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
s. ;Other ranks The rank insignia of
non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
s and
enlisted personnel An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States ...
.


Banner

The design of the banner of the Pontifical Swiss Guard banner has been changed several times. A fresco by Polidoro da Caravaggio in the burial chapel of the guard in Santa Maria della Pietà in
Campo Santo Teutonico The Teutonic Cemetery (, "Camposanto of the Teutons and the Flemish") is a burial site in Rome adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica. Burial is reserved for members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of the German Cemetery, which owns the cemetery. It ...
, commissioned by the second commander,
Marx Röist Marx Röist (7 August 1454–15 June 1524) was a member of the political elite of Zürich, and from 1517 the second commander of the Papal Swiss Guard. Biography The son of a wealthy patrician and city councillor, Heinrich Röist, he serve ...
, in 1522, depicts the commander of the guard flanked by two banners. An early reference to the guard's banner ('' vennly'') dates to 1519, although the design of that banner is unknown. An early surviving banner is on display in the Sala Regia. The banner changed with each pontificate, and depicted the colors of the coat of arms of the reigning pope. The modern colors of the Swiss Guard, introduced in the early 20th century, are those of the
House of Medici The House of Medici ( , ; ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo de' Medici, Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first h ...
, first used under the
Medici popes The list of popes from the House of Medici, Medici family includes four men from the late-15th century through the early-17th century. The House of Medici first attained wealth and political power in Florence in the 15th century through its succe ...
and depicted in a fresco by
Giuseppe Porta Giuseppe Porta (1520–1575), also known as Giuseppe Salviati, was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period, active mostly in Venice. Biography Caterina d’Alessandria con i Santi Gerolamo, Giovanni Battista, Giacomo Apostolo San Fr ...
. Under
Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...
(Mastai Ferretti, r. 1846–1878), it was divided into three horizontal fields, displaying the
coat of arms of the Holy See The coat of arms of the Holy See combines two crossed keys and a tiara, used as the official emblem of the Holy See, and by extension, the wider Catholic Church. These forms have origins attested from the 14th century."A red shield bearing two wh ...
(keys in saltire surmounted by the papal tiara on a red field), the
Swiss flag The national flag of Switzerland displays a white Greek cross in the center of a square red field. The white cross is known as the Swiss cross or the federal cross. Its arms are equilateral, and their ratio of length to width is 7:6. The size ...
(a white cross with two laurel branches on a red field) and a yellow field without heraldic charge. On the reverse side of the banner was the papal coat of arms of Pius IX.Stefan Vogler, ''Sacco di Roma; Plünderung von Rom'' (2015), p. 19. Under
Pius X Pope Pius X (; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing modernist interpretations of Catholic d ...
(Giuseppe Melchiorre, r. 1903–1914) and commander Leopold Meyer von Schauensee (1901–1910), the top field displayed the papal coat of arms in a blue field. The center field was red without heraldic charge and the bottom field displayed the family coat of arms of the guard commander. The modern design of the banner was first used under commander Jules Repond of Freiburg (1910–1921). The modern banner is a square divided by a white cross into quarters, in the tradition of the banners historically used by the Swiss Guards in the 18th century. In the fourth quarter (lower right) is Pope Julius II's
coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...
. In the first quarter (upper left) that of the reigning pope. The other two quarters display the Swiss Guard's colors, red, yellow and blue, the colors of the House of Medici. In the center of the cross is the commander's own coat of arms. The current banner from 2016 thus shows the
coat of arms of Pope Francis On 18 March 2013, Pope Francis adopted in his papal coat of arms the coat of arms and the motto that he used since his episcopal consecration in 1991, differenced following his election as Supreme Pontiff. Charges and field His coat of arms d ...
in the first quarter and a vignette of the family coat of arms of
Christoph Graf Colonel Christoph Graf (born 5 September 1961) is a Swiss military officer. He serves as the 35th Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, appointed by Pope Francis on 7 February 2015, succeeding Colonel Daniel Anrig. Biography Graf was born ...
in the center. It has dimensions of 2.2 m squared, woven in a
damask Damask (; ) is a woven, Reversible garment, reversible patterned Textile, fabric. Damasks are woven by periodically reversing the action of the warp and weft threads. The pattern is most commonly created with a warp-faced satin weave and the gro ...
pattern of pomegranates and thistles, in what is known as "Julius-damask", based on the Julius banners of 1512. The central vignette is
embroidered Embroidery is the art of decorating Textile, fabric or other materials using a Sewing needle, needle to stitch Yarn, thread or yarn. It is one of the oldest forms of Textile arts, textile art, with origins dating back thousands of years across ...
on the backdrop of the colors of the flag of Lucerne. The guard colors in the second quarter (upper right) were reversed so that the second and third quarters are identical. The banner was completed in April 2015, and it was first used for the oath of service of new recruits in May 2015. The banner is carried out during ceremonies and the '' Urbi et Orbi'' address and blessing twice a year. During the pontificate of Pope Francis, only the
Flag of Vatican City The flag of Vatican City is the national flag of Vatican City. It was adopted in 1929, the year Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy, creating the new independent state of Vatican City. The flag is a vertical bicolour of yellow and ...
was used instead of the banner during ceremonial occasions, as a sort of national color whenever the Pope was present.


See also

*
List of commanders of the Pontifical Swiss Guard The Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the head of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. In total, there have been 35 commanders of the Swiss Guard serving 51 popes, with interruptions during 1527–1548 following the Sack of Rome, in 1564/5, in ...
*
Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City The Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State (; ) is the gendarmerie, or military police and security force, of Vatican City, Holy See and its extraterritorial properties. It was founded in 1816 as Corps of Gendarmes by Pope Pius VII, renamed ...
*
Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State The Corps of Firefighters of the Vatican City State (; ) is the fire brigade of the Vatican City State. It was founded in its present form by Pope Pius XII in 1941, although its origins are much older. The patron saints of the Corps are Pope Le ...
*
Military in Vatican City The Vatican City State, formed in 1929, is the heir of the Papal States, which ceased to exist in 1870. Unlike those, the Vatican does not have a military, except for a small number of Swiss Guards and gendarmes, fulfilling mainly representative ...
*
Corsican Guard The Corsican Guard (Italian language, Italian and Corsican language, Corsican: ''Guardia Corsa'') was a military unit of the Papal States composed exclusively of Corsican people, Corsican mercenaries on duty in Rome, having the functions of an ...
*
Noble Guard The Noble Guard () was one of the household guard units serving the Pope, and formed part of the military in Vatican City. It was formed by Pope Pius VII in 1801 as a regiment of heavy cavalry, and abolished in 1970 by Pope Paul VI following Vat ...
*
Palatine Guard The Palatine Guard () was a military unit of Holy See, the Vatican. It was formed in 1850 by Pope Pius IX, who ordered that the two militia units of the Papal States be amalgamated. The corps was formed as an infantry unit, and took part in watch ...
*
Papal Navy The Papal Navy (, "Pontifical Navy"; ) was the navy, maritime force of the Papal States. Loosely constituted, it was sporadically extant from approximately the Battle of Ostia (849) during the pontificate of Pope Leo IV, Leo IV until the ascension ...
*
Papal Zouaves The Papal Zouaves () were an infantry battalion (later regiment) dedicated to defending the Papal States. Named after the French zouave regiments, the ' were mainly young men, unmarried and Catholic, who volunteered to assist Pope Pius IX in his ...
*
Cent-Suisses The Cent-Suisses (, ''Hundred Swiss'') were an elite infantry company of Swiss mercenaries that served the French kings from 1471 to 1792 and from 1814 to 1830. History The unit was created in 1471 by King Louis XI. Originally, the company was ...
* Swiss Guards *
Swiss mercenaries The Swiss mercenaries were a powerful infantry force constituting professional soldiers originating from the cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy. They were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially among the military forces of th ...


Notes


Citations


General and cited sources

* * * * *


External links


Official website: English




* ttp://catholicism.org/five-hundred-years-of-loyalty-the-gallantry-of-the-popes-swiss-guard.html Five Hundred Years of Loyalty (catholicism.org)
Insignia of Rank (officers and other ranks) Pontifical Swiss Guard (uniforminsignia.com)

Inside the world's smallest army: The Swiss Guard (TheSwissTimes.ch)

"Päpstliche Schweizergarde Vatikan": Vatican Papal Swiss Guard in German (SchweizerGarde.ch)

The firearms used by the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the smallest army in the world
{{Authority control 1506 establishments in the Papal States Military units and formations established in the 16th century Swiss Roman Catholics Religion and politics Protective security units Pope Julius II Holy See–Switzerland relations