She wears colorful uniforms, metal helmets with wings – from the Renaissance era and is armed with swords and spears. The reason for the Swiss Guard that since 1506 has served 43 pontiffs.
The Swiss Guard was founded on January 22, 1506, when Pope Julius II recruited 150 Swiss mercenaries, who were in demand at the time for their great military service.
This tiny army – to be precise the smallest in the world – today has 114 members and includes 110 soldiers and four officers.
The Swiss Guard is highly trained, and in addition to being a tourist attraction, it also offers protection services to the pope. It is considered a special honor to be in it, either for the minimum term (26 months) or for the maximum (25 years).
The guards are paid 1,500 euros, the new recruits are from 19 to 30 years old with a height of at least 1.72 m. To get married one must be 25 years old, while if he gets married he is committed to serve another three years. Besides his salary, he has free housing and education for himself and his family.
Applicants must of course be Catholic in religion, Swiss nationality, high school graduates and have completed their basic training in the Swiss army.
The uniforms
Their famous medieval costumes, in blue, orange, red and gold, were the work of Jill Repon, the guard of the guard in 1914, who inspired them with the vivid colors of Raphael’s work, although the Roman people strongly claim that The creator of these masterpieces is none other than Michael Angelos. These costumes are used during celebrations, parades and honorary guarding.
Everyday suits consist of blue coats, pants of the same color and black berets. The armor of the guards at the entrance of the pope’s house consists of spears and swords. The other members, however, when not in this honorary service, carry modern weapons.
Every year on May 6, the guard swears allegiance to the pope, commemorating the looting of Rome in 1527. At that time 147 of the 189 members of the guard had been killed around St. Peter during a fierce battle with the soldiers of Emperor Charles V, giving Pope Clement VII the opportunity to escape.
Today the Vatican is guarded by men of the Italian security forces, while the Swiss guards are in charge of guarding the papal residence and accompanying the pope on his travels.
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