GUARDS OF VATICAN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 14, 12 October 1943, Page 6

GUARDS OF VATICAN

Their Origins And History SWISS ASSOCIATION OF 438 YEARS A Berlin radio report alleging that the Swiss Guard disarmed 17 British soldiers who tried to enter the. Vatican several days ago, draws attention to this longestablished organization whose mejnbers are the military guardians of the. Papal Palace aud who are entrusted with the guarding of the Dope. History, though long ago, has proved that these guards will defend to the last man the trust whi-h bv their tradition, they regard as sacred. They still wear the uniform designed bv Michelangelo, and bear pikes Nonetheless they are a specially picked and fit body of men who would be well able to resist any attempt, unless it were on a big scale, to touch the person of the Pope. Against any major move by troops or others armed with modern weapons their resistance would no doubt be suicidal. , Though the area of the Vatican City is less than 110 acres and there are fewer than 1000 inhabitants, it has in proportion to its population more soldiers (guards might be the more appropriate word) than any other state. There iswithin the Vatican a well-orwinizcd service of police and guards. Military and police bodies protect persons and property (and a fire department prevents dangers from fire). The special military guardians of the 'palace are the Swiss Guards; entrusted with the specifically police duties are the gendarmes or Papal Guard. The Palatine Guards are rather a guard of honor, and the Noble Guard, a mounted bodyguard with very limited service. The historical origins of all these bodies are interesting. Every candidate for the Swiss Guards must be a native Swiss, a Catholic, of legitimate birth, unmarried, under'2s, at least five feet eight, in height, healthy aud free from bodily disfigurements. Whoever is not eligible for military service .in Switzerland is likewise refused admission into the guard, Retirement is at free will but after 18 years’ service each guard is entitled to a life pension of one-third of his pay, after 20 years to two-thirds, after 25 years to live-sixths and after 30 years to full pay. The duties of the guards are: The guarding of the sacred person of the Pope and the protection of the apostolic Puiaces, all exits from the palace to the city and the entrance doors to the papal apartments being entrusted to their charge. They have also to take up their position in all pontifical fuiictiorls in the papal chapels and in all other religious functions at which the Pope assists. They have also other duties regulated by ancient traditions or more recent decrees. The religious privileges of the guards are very extensive. In all public processions they take their place immediately behind the Noble Guard. Even in,the 15th century the popes dos' sessed a bodyguard of the Catholic Swiss. .In 1505, at the instance of the Swiss Cardinal Schinner a treaty was made by Julius II with the two cantons of Zurich and Lucerne whereby these cantons had to supply constantly 250 men as a bodyguard to the Pope. Since then there has always been about the Pope a corps of Swiss Guards. At present the Guards’ strength is 100. ■ Their old picturesque uniform of bl,ack, red and yellow, in sixteenth century style, is still retained. Early this century a black hat with red strings replaced the ugly helmet. On guard duty they wear dark yellow stockings and buckled shoes. On specially solemn occasions both men and officers appear in military uniform with weapons aud helmets. < The Papal Guard. The corps of Gendarmes of ' the Apostolic Palaces, now called the Papal Guard, consists of Italians who must be at least five feet nine, have completed an entirely unobjectionable period of service in the Italian Army and have secured good certificates of character both from the secular and religious authorities. Upon them devolves the duty of policing the palace and the gardens. They number 62. ■« The Guardia d’Onoro or Palatine Guard, as it exists to’tlay, extends back to Pius IX. In Decerpber, 1850, he decreed that the two bodies of militia, the eivici scelti and the capotori, should be united under the new name of the Guardia Palatine d'Onore. Before 1870 the services of this regiment were not confined to the palace, military operations in war being assigned to them. After IS7O the corps greatly diminished. As distinguished from the Swiss Guards who are appointed for the guarding of the Pope’s person, the Palatine Guard perform such duties in the Papal service as are detailed in the directions of the major-domo and maestro di camera. AH members are Roman citizens. They per- ' form their duties gratis and receive a uniform allowance. During the Conclave (the assembly of cardinals to elect a new Pope) a company of the guard is stationed in the Cortile del Mareseiallo under the command of the hereditary Marshal of the Conclave. The Noble Guard.

The Guardia Nobile, this most. . distinguished corps of the Papal military service, has an interesting history. The mounted guard of the popes was formerly formed of the corps of cavalleggieri (light cavalry) but in 1744 Benedict NIV gave these guards a new organization, fixing their number at 90. After the disbanding of these (roops during the confusion of the French Revolution, Pius VII formed a new bodyguard composed of the remainder of the cavalleggieri and the old eavalierc dcllc laricie spezzate. A decree of May. 1801, ordered the institution of the Noble Guard (guardie nobili di corpo), the Spanish noble guards being taken as the model. The political revolution under Napoleon I prevented the proper formation of the new corps and flic reorganization was effected by warrant of the Cardinal-Secretary of State in November. 1815. The petition of Count Giovanni Mastai Ferretti, afterward Pius IX, for admission into the Guards (June 26.. 1814), which was rejected because of his weak health, is still preserved in the archives of the Noble Guard.. Leo XIII amalgamated the two existing companies, with a whole corps of 77. The captain ranks as a lieutenant-general of regulars. Onethird of the simple members of the corps enjoy the rank of captain, one-third that of lieutenant, and one-third that of sub-lieutenant. The Noble Guard has the exclusive .right of conveying the tidings, of their elevation to the “crown cardinals in Catholic lands, as well as to nuncios of the first class when raised to cardinalate, and also of bringing to their residences the red hat.

Conditions for reception into the corps are: Age. 21-25; testimonial of good character from parish priest, bishop or other ecclesiastical authorities; 60 years line of nobility recognized in the Papal States, with the same tests as m the Order of Malta: height, at least five feet seven; perfect bodily health. The post of commander lies at the-, free disposal of the Pope and is always entrusted to a Roman prince. Otherwise promotion is exclusively by length of service. . The Noble Guard makes public appearances only when the Pope takes part in a public function: when the lope withdraws, he is followed by the Noble Guard.