The swearing in of the Swiss Guard, annually takes place on May 6th. The new guards take their oath on the anniversary of the sack of Rome. On this day in 1527, 189 Swiss guards defended Pope Clement VII against German Landsknecht soldiers and Spanish mercenaries. Pope Clement VII and only 42 of the guards survived. Today, there are strict requirements on who can be a Swiss Guard. The guard must be a Swiss citizen, practicing Catholic and be between 19 and 30 years old. The recruit must be single and at least 5’8.5″ feet tall. They must be available for at least 26 months of service.
The History & Requirements of the Swiss Guard: the Oldest Standing Army
Pope Francis has expressed his desire to visit his native Argentina next year, stating that he has always wanted to return, but has requested not to be linked to the politics of his country, and the trip will take place after the presidential elections in October 2023.
Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today
Share
Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican
Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.
More news related to this article
Pope Francis Highlights the Multiple Aspects of Holiness
Pope Francis has proposed as key elements of his reflection “the unifying holiness, familial holiness, and martyrdom holiness”
Pope Leo XIV ordains 11 new priests for Rome, urges transparent priesthood
Pope Leo XIV ordained 11 new priests for the Diocese of Rome on Saturday during a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, urging them to live lives that are “transparent, visible, credible” in service to God’s people.
Cardinal Parolin: Europe Must Rediscover Itself to Face Major Challenges
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said that Europe must “rediscover itself” in order to be able to face the “major challenges” of culture, commerce, and migration.
The Vatican Gears Up for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris
The Vatican and the French Embassy to the Holy See join forces to organize a conference on sport and spirituality in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games. Cardinal Mendonça emphasized the Church's vision of humanizing sport.
A Tireless Seeker of Truth: Pope Francis Honors Blaise Pascal’s Legacy
Pope Francis pays tribute to the profound intellectual and spiritual journey of Blaise Pascal, the 17th-century French mathematician,
Pope tells altar servers Jesus is with them in ‘that act of love which is the Eucharist’
Pope Francis celebrated a liturgy with tens of thousands of altar servers packed in St. Peter’s Square for