Oath of the Swiss Guards on Sunday
May 05, 2012: 26 New Swiss guards will take oath on Sunday, May 6, at the saint Damaso
Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. The day is chosen to commemorate
the heroic death of 147 soldiers fallen in defense of the Supreme Pontiff during the
attack of Rome in 1527.On the previous day, Saturday, 5th May, there will be special prayers or Vespers in the Church Santa Maria in Campo Santo for parents of the recruits, followed by the Commemoration of the Fallen soldiers at 6.00 pm.
On Sunday, there will be a special mass in the morning at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican’s Secretary of State.
The 26 new guards will take a solemn oath before the representative of the Holy Father, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, Deputy Secretary of State. There will also be cardinals, bishops, members of the Curia, diplomatic representatives of the delegations to the Holy See.
The government delegation present will be led by its President, Mrs. Yvonne Schärli. The Helvetic Confederation will be represented by the new Swiss Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Paul Widmer, Swiss Army and the Commander of the Army Corps André Blattmann.
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