Swiss Guard "School of Life"

(05 May 08 - RV ) Pope Benedict XVI today met with the Pontifical Swiss Guard ahead of tomorrow’s annual swearing in ceremony of new recruits.

Speaking to the 33 Halberdiers in the Clementine hall the Pope recalled the historic tradition of the Guards 500 years of faithful service to the Holy See, describing the corps as a “School of life”.

There is a date in the history of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican, that is closely linked with the history of the Church herself, because it was a day marked by the blood of 147 of her sons: May 6th, 1527, the Sack of Rome. This date, which in 1527 was a day of death, today, is a day of life, because each year on this day, the new recruits take their solemn oath of loyalty.
The ceremony takes place in the historic St. Damaso Courtyard within the Vatican City. The Guard, from the Commandant down to the newest Halberdier, is in full dress-uniform, red, blue and gold pantaloons, crimson plumes atop their iron helmets. They march to the beat of the guard band and after the trumpets have sounded the Vatican anthem the new recruits, or halberdier swears a solemn oath to “faithfully, loyally and honourably serve the Supreme Pontiff and his legitimate successors…..with all my strength, sacrificing if necessary also my life to defend them”.
Speaking Monday to these young men, all Swiss Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI noted that down through the five hundred years of their history, this “spirit of faith which calls young Swiss men to leave their beautiful homeland to dedicate their service to the Pope and the Vatican, has remained unchanged”.
The Pope spoke to them of how “the impressive evolution of society has further highlighted the centuries long dedication of the small but qualified Guard to guaranteeing the security of the Roman Pontiff”.
The Pope also spoke of the Swiss Guards’ “love for the Catholic Church” which, he said is symbolised not in words but in their physical presence, their characteristic uniforms, which “speak to tourists and pilgrims from all corners of the world of something that is constant and unchangeable” that is of their commitment to serve God, to be the “servants of his servants”.
Then ,Pope Benedict turned his attention to the young men who Tuesday will swear their loyalty to him, the new Halberdiers. He urged them to “assimilate the ecclesial and Christian spirit which is at the basis of all functions of the Swiss Guard”. He urged them to “cultivate their spiritual life through prayer”. He urged them to be “open, simple and loyal”, to appreciate differences in personality and character within their community, because he added “beneath the uniform there is a unique and irreplaceable person that is called by God to serve his Kingdom of love and peace”.
“The Swiss Guard”, concluded Pope Benedict “is also a school of life…for which we thank God and express our appreciation. My dear friends I thank you for generous and dedicated service to the Pope”.