For World Youth Day 60 "Young Swiss Guards" will welcome the Holy Father

(July 28, 2011) On the occasion of the next World Youth Day to be held in August in Madrid, Pope Benedict XVI will be greeted by a special group of bodyguards: 60 children, dressed in the traditional uniform of the Swiss Guards. The group is nicknamed "Young Swiss Guards". The Director of this young group reported that the group of small Swiss Guards was born out of affection for the Pope, in particular for John Paul II during his first visit to Spain in 1982. The Blessed John Paul II visited the country again in 1993 and 2003, always accompanied by the young Swiss Guards. The Swiss Guards are responsible for the Pope’s safety. One hundred and ten of them guard his home and assist him during important ceremonies that are celebrated in the Vatican. It will be different for World Youth Day when Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Spain, the security service will increase and will be helped by the special guard of these young Swiss Guards. The group will welcome the Pope at the airport in Barajas, and will be there to greet him even at the end of World Youth Day. In the meantime Spain is getting ready to welcome more than a million young people for the World Youth Day. Major religious and cultural events organized by the Catholic Church that gather around the Pope thousands of young people from all continents this year will be held from August 16 to 21 in Madrid.