Skip to main content

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

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

1 of 12
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

2 of 12
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

3 of 12
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

4 of 12
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

5 of 12
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

6 of 12
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

7 of 12
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

8 of 12
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

9 of 12
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

10 of 12
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

11 of 12
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

12 of 12

Interact with The Globe