The world-famous Swiss Guard of the Vatican, which ensures the security of the Pope, has celebrated its 500th anniversary. The "Vatican Guard" is the oldest and smallest army in the world, which has been guarding the sacred person of the Pope for almost five centuries. Over its long history, the guards have protected 42 pontiffs in total. After the reform carried out by Pope Paul VI in 1970, the Swiss Guard remained the only Vatican unit that retained military functions. The company of Swiss guards numbers one hundred men. It includes 70 rank-and-file guards, 25 non-commissioned officers, 4 officers and a chaplain.

The Swiss Guard guards the papal apartments and the gates of the city-state of Vatican. The guards also perform the role of honor guard at official Vatican events. Two guards in civilian clothes always accompany the Pope during all his travels. The guards, as half a century ago, are taught to handle spears and halberds, with which they are armed, with virtuosity. Their duties also include performing on wind instruments the official anthem of the Vatican to the music of Charles Gounod. However, members of the Swiss Guard are also trained in the use of modern firearms.

Why the Vatican is guarded by mercenaries

The official date of the "birth" of the Swiss Guard is considered to be January 22. On this day, the first Swiss guards arrived in Rome. 150 young mercenaries from the Swiss canton of Uri, under the command of Captain Kaspar von Silenen, first entered the territory of the Vatican and were met by Pope Julius II.

In those distant times, Switzerland was a poor country and supplied mercenary soldiers. Therefore, Swiss guards guarded the peace of many monarchs of Europe, but today they continue to serve only in the Vatican.

Despite the fact that the Swiss guards were mercenaries, they heroically defended the Vatican from enemies. In honor of one of the heroic pages of history, on May 6, a swearing-in ceremony is held: it was on this day in 1527 that 147 Swiss guards fell at the walls of the Vatican, defending Pope Clement VII, who, thanks to the heroism of the Swiss, managed to hide from enemies in the impregnable Castel Sant'Angelo on the banks of the Tiber.

The troops of the Holy Roman Emperor and King Charles V of Spain, who invaded Rome, plundered the city, thereby putting an end to papal power of the Renaissance era. The terrible orgy of destruction continued for about a month, until French troops moved on Rome. Since then, pontiffs have trusted their lives only to mercenary soldiers from the German cantons of Switzerland, and at the post at the gates of the Vatican today stand Swiss guards in ancient yellow-blue-red uniforms in the colors of the House of Medici. There is a legend that the unusual uniform of the Swiss Guard was invented by Michelangelo. In fact, this uniform was designed only a century ago - in 1905 its author was the commander of the guards. Because of it, among other things, the Swiss guards are considered the most photographed soldiers in the world.

Three candidates per place

Getting into the ranks of the Swiss guards is very difficult. There are very many conditions. Only unmarried men between the ages of 19 and 30 can become members of the guard. Only after three years of service in the Vatican are guards allowed to marry, writes religare.ru.

In addition, a potential candidate must be a Catholic and have a recommendation from the local bishop. He must have Swiss citizenship, have completed secondary school and know several languages, as well as have completed service in the Swiss army. Moreover, his height must be at least 174 centimeters. The term of service in the Swiss Guard is at least two years. Preference is given to those in whose families someone has already served in the guard.

Despite the strict requirements for candidates, they say that in the Swiss Guard, three people apply for one guard vacancy every year.

In May 1998, a tragic story occurred in the Swiss Guard - a few hours after his appointment as commandant of the guard, Colonel Alois Estermann and his wife were killed. They were killed by a guardsman, but the motives for the crime could not be established, since the killer committed suicide immediately after committing the crime.

Jubilee celebrations The celebration of the 500th anniversary of the guard began back in September. Then, in the Swiss city of Lucerne, veterans of the Swiss Guard gathered for a jubilee ceremony, and a mass was served. A pilgrimage route was organized from the Swiss Bellinzona to Rome, repeating the path of the first 150 guards invited by Pope Julius II.

Last Sunday, a solemn mass was also served in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Swiss Guard. Pope Benedict XVI blessed the guards during a special ceremony in St. Peter's Square. He thanked them in his traditional Sunday address to the faithful. "Thank you for 500 years of service!" said the pontiff. New recruits of the Swiss Guard took the oath in St. Peter's Square in the presence of the Pope. After that, the guards marched through the center of the Vatican.

And the celebrations of the anniversary of the Swiss Guard will end in May. A pilgrimage route will be organized from the Swiss Bellinzona to Rome, repeating the path of the first 150 guards invited by Pope Julius II. At the end of spring, a group of veteran guards will march on foot from Switzerland to the Vatican, where in St. Peter's Square the Pope will serve a special mass for them.

Printed in the newspaper "DELO" No. 62 of January 24, 2006