The Swiss Guard, founded in 1506, consist of 100 volunteers who must be of Swiss nationality, Catholic, single, at least 174 cm tall and without a beard. New recruits are sworn in every year on May 6 to commemorate the day where 147 Swiss soldiers died defending the Pope during an attack on Rome in 1527
Please enable JavaScript to view this content. Open this photo in gallery: New recruits of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard march in front of the tower of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR) during the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2014. TONY GENTILE/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: New recruits of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard stand at attention during the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2014. TONY GENTILE/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: A new recruit of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard gestures while holding a flag during the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2014. TONY GENTILE/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: New recruits of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard stand at attention during the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2014. TONY GENTILE/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: A new recruit of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard marches during the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2014. TONY GENTILE/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Vatican Swiss guards play drums as they make their way to a swearing-in ceremony, at the Vatican, Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Alessandra Tarantino/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Vatican Swiss guards play drums as they make their way to a swearing-in ceremony, at the Vatican, Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Alessandra Tarantino/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: New recruits of the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard stand at attention during the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican May 6, 2014. TONY GENTILE/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Vatican Swiss guards march prior to a swearing-in ceremony, at the Vatican, Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Alessandra Tarantino/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Vatican Swiss guards march after a swearing-in ceremony, at the Vatican, Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Alessandra Tarantino/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Pope Francis, flanked by Swiss Guards Commander Daniel Rudolf Anrig, greets new Swiss Guards the day before their swearing-in ceremony, as he arrives to meet them in the Clementine hall at the Vatican. The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Pope Francis (C) poses with Swiss Guards at the Vatican, the day before their swearing-in ceremony. OSSERVATORE ROMANO/Reuters
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