May 06, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday met Vatican’s famous Swiss Guards and reminded
them that the faith that God gifted them on the day of their Baptism was their most
precious treasure, and that source of their mission in the service of the Pope and
the Church has its source in that very faith. The Pope spoke to them on May 6th
, the anniversary that commemorates 147 guards who lost their lives defending Pope
Clement VII in the sack of Rome in 1527 by the troops of Charles V of Spain. Only
42 guards survived. On this anniversary the Vatican holds a swearing-in of all new
guards to help remind them of the seriousness of their commitment. Pope Francis thanked
the Swiss Guards and their families saying he personally experiences their dedication,
professionalism and love. Recalling their heroic sacrifice of 1527, Pope Francis
said that today they are faced with another form of sacrifice that is equally demanding
– that is, of putting their youthful energies at the service of the Church and the
Pope. This requires strength animated by love and sustained by faith in Christ.
He noted that their decision to serve the Pope was driven by their faith, which speaks
of the attachment of Swiss Catholics to the Church. Recalling that Monday evening
35 recruits were to take their oath, the Pope reminded the Swiss Guards to regard
their service as a witness to Christ.