Swiss Guards celebrate 518 years in 2024.

Come join us as the Vatican hosts its annual ceremony to swear in new recruits into the Swiss Guards, the world’s smallest army, on Monday 6 May. The event will take place in the S. Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, where 34 new guards will take a solemn oath of allegiance to the pope, bringing the military unit back up to its full complement of 135.

This annual ceremony holds special significance as it commemorates 6 May 1527, when 147 Swiss Guards gave their lives protecting Pope Clement VII from the army of the Holy Roman Emperor. The pope managed to escape via the 800-m Passetto di Borgo passageway to the safety of Castel S. Angelo.

Under the leadership of Commander Christoph Graf, the current Swiss Guards belong to the world’s oldest standing army, which celebrated its 518th anniversary on 22 January this year. To be a part of this elite unit, guards must be male, of Swiss nationality, Catholic, unmarried, and aged between 19 and 30. They must also have undergone intensive Swiss military training and be a minimum height of 174 cm.

Aside from their primary duty of protecting the pope, the Swiss Guards also carry out ceremonial tasks, assist at Vatican functions, and are known for their iconic halberd weapons and distinctive blue, gold, and red uniforms. These dedicated soldiers typically serve at the Vatican for a period ranging from two to 25 years, in service to the pontiff.

Photo credit: AM113 / Shutterstock.com.