(May 7, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Monday encouraged 26 new members of the fabled
Swiss Guards of the Vatican to draw from Jesus the grace to be faithful to the Pope
and his Church, just as their predecessors had been doing for over 500 years. The
Pope met the new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guards and their families a day after
their swearing-in ceremony in the Vatican. The oath-taking ceremony is held each
year on May 6 to commemorate the day in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting
Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome. Only 42 guards survived. Recalling their
undisputed and heroic fidelity on that occasion, Pope Benedict noted that the special
service of the world’s oldest and smallest army has always been marked by the same
outstanding qualities through the centuries: namely solid Catholic faith, fidelity
and love for the Church of Christ, diligence and perseverance in their duties both
small and great, courage and humility, and generosity and readiness. The Pope encouraged
the young guards to care for and edify one another in their daily duties and maintain
a style of evangelical charity towards all they meet. In this they can draw their
strength from the furnace of divine love through long periods of prayer, constant
listening to the Word of God and by making the Eucharist the centre of their lives.
“Holiness is the goal of every Christian life,” the Pope reminded them. January
22, 1506, is regarded as the official foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. On
that day, a group of 150 Swiss soldiers marching all the way from Switzerland entered
for the first time the Vatican, where they were blessed by Pope Julius II.