What do you know about the Swiss guards of the Vatican

With the announcement by Pope Leo XIV, the ball is on the Swiss guards around him

Another chapter in the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV begins today. In a long story, he will be a world leader and the only religious leader who is the head of a state who is represented at the United Nations. While Pope Francis simply lived, the Pope of almost 2000 years is surrounded by Pageantry and Tradition. One of them is the people who protect him. Here is what is not about the Swiss guards of the Vatican.

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The papal Swiss guard is a historical military unit that was built by Pope Julius II in 1506 and serves as a personal bodyguard and ceremonial guards for the Pope and the Vatican City. Known as “the smallest army in the world”, it consists of around 135 men who protect the Pope, the Apostolic Palace and the holy sites of the Vatican. The Swiss guard is known for its colorful uniforms in the Renaissance style, which were redesigned by Commander Jules Repond in 1914 to reflect Swiss military clothing from the 16th century and at the same time allow modern military exercises.

Swiss mercenaries, who were highly valued for their military skills in Europe, pursue the origins of the Swiss guard. The guard has a famous history of loyalty and bravery, especially during the sack of Rome in 1527, when 147 of the 189 guards died when Pope Clement VII. Over the centuries, the guard has shifted from a struggle unit to a mainly protective and ceremonial force. The guard combines tradition with modern security training and improved the tactical willingness after the 1981 attack on Pope John Paul II.

The recruits must be unmarried Catholic Swiss Catholic men between the ages of 19 and 30 with military training and a professional diploma or a high school. After five years of service, guards can get married if they are at least 25 years old.

Her residence is located in the heart of the Vatican city, directly beyond Porta Sant'anna, within a barracks that was built in the 19th century. Your living rooms are located especially on the eastern edge of the city, north of St. Peter's Square and next to the Vatican Palace. This agreement enables you to be close to the areas with which you should protect, including the Pope's Apostolic Palace and the private apartment of the Pope. Some guards who are married and have families also live in apartments in the Vatican city

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Today the Swiss Guard has around 135 members and remains one of the oldest military units in the world. They are not only recognized for their colorful uniforms and ceremonial duties, but also for their serious commitment, to protect the Pope and the Vatican City with loyalty and bravery.