23 Young men pledge their readiness to give their lives in defense of the Bishop of RomeEvery year on May 6, in a ceremony that commemorate the Sack of Rome in 1527 and the 147 Swiss Guards who died defending Clement VII, new recruits are sworn in to the iconic corps of protectors of the pope.
This year, 23 young men joined the ranks of the Swiss Guard.
The Holy Father greeted them and their families over the weekend, urging them to bear witness to their faith with joy, so that the many people they meet, “especially at the entrances to Vatican City,” would be impressed by the spirit with which they perform their duties.
Aleteia’s Antonie Mekary brings us an inside view of the stunning ceremony and of the Mass the new recruits had together.
