Pope meets another security force of Vatican

(January 8, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday thanked the Italian state police in charge of security in the Vatican saying their presence is an assurance to the Pontiff and thousands of pilgrims who come to visit the centre of Christianity. “May the Lord reward you for your sacrifices, often hidden, for the numerous believers and visitors and for the safety of the mission of the Pope,” the Holy Father told the officials of what is known as the Inspectorate of Public Security in the Vatican, or briefly “Ispettorato Vaticano” in Italian. The unit is part of the Italian State Police that is in charge of providing security to the Pope when he visits Italian territories and in guarding St. Peter’s Square. The Pope’s traditional Christmastide meetings with various security forces in the Vatican take place at the start of the New Year. Earlier on Thursday, the Pope met another branch of security force - the St Peter’s division of the Carabinieri, Italy’s military police. Vatican’s other security forces are its own police force, the Gendarmeria, as well as the famed Swiss Guards.