New members sworn into Pope's army

(May 7, 2010) Thirty new recruits were sworn into the Pontifical Swiss Guard on Thursday afternoon in the Vatican in an annual May 6th ceremony commemorating the death of the 147 Swiss Guards who died during the Sack of Rome over 450 years ago. Early Thursday morning Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for members of the Swiss Guard, their families and friends. In his homily the Cardinal 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”. After Mass Daniel Rudolf Anrig, commander of the world’s smallest army, 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. Recruits to the Pope’s army must be between 19 and 30 years old, faithful Roman Catholics and Swiss citizens who commit to serving at least 25 months.