Pope's Army Swears in New Recruits

(06 May 10 – RV) On Thursday May 6^th, as is tradition, the new halberdiers of the Pontifical Swiss Guard will swear their oath of loyalty to the Pope . This year 31 young men, all Swiss, Catholic and between the ages of 19 and 30, will take the oath to serve the Pope, before family and friends in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.

William Kloter, the new major of the Swiss Guard, will also be taking the oath.

The swearing-in ceremony is celebrated every year on 6 May to commemorate the death of the 147 Swiss Guards who died during the Sack of Rome.

The day started at 7.30 a.m. with Mass for the Swiss Guards, their families and friends celebrated by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. in St. Peter's Basilica.

In his homily Cardinal Bertone spoke of the noble legacy of the Guards. He told them that being a Swiss Guard “means always adhering without reserve to Christ and His Church, and called on them to live their soldierly vocation in a manner that is pleasing to God”.

At 8.30 a.m. Daniel Rudolf Anrig, commander of the Swiss Guard, placed a laurel wreath at the monument in the courtyard of the Swiss Guard barracks commemorating the 147 members of the corps who lost their lives protecting Pope Clement VII from the onslaught of the troops of Emperor Charles V during the Sack of Rome on 6 May 1527.

Archbishop Fernando Filoni, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, then conferred military decorations on certain members of the Guard.

Among those present at this year's swearing-in ceremony will be Doris Leuthard, president of the Swiss Confederation, and Peter Stutz, chief-of-staff, who will represent the Swiss army.

Earlier on Thursday, Ms Leuthrad was received in private audience by Pope Benedict XVI. A press communiqué released after the meeting said talks touched on issues concerning the socio-economic questions and the current international situation, with particular reference to interreligious dialogue”.