My fun catholic fact
from yesterday sparked a couple of questions…I will do my best to cover some of
the topics.
There are only 110
Swiss guardsmen in total: A Commandant
(currently Christoph Graf; Francis fired the previous commandant for
being to ‘militaristic’), four officers, six sergeants, a priest, one staff
sergeant, ten corporals, and ten vice corporals. The remaining seventy-seven
guards are halberdiers:
They get 30 days off a year, that’s one Sunday every 2 weeks.
They get 30 days off a year, that’s one Sunday every 2 weeks.
They get paid 1500 Euros (about $1700)tax free per month plus room and
board.
They are trained in multiple small arms not just halberds spears and
swords. They know modern warfare they
are real elite soldiers and have real modern weapons to protect the Pope see
below.
Each guardsman can speak several languages even so, they are not permitted to
interact with the general public for 7 months after beginning service.
In the 15th century, Pope Sixtus IV began using Swiss mercenaries
against his ongoing conflict with the local petty monarchs. His pact with the Swiss Confederacy was
renewed by his successors, barracks were built and the guard grew to what it is
today.
Off duty they have a soccer team, a band and retired guards have an alumni association.
Requirements
for becoming a Swiss Guard
Not everyone can aspire to become a Swiss
Guard. Each applicant must meet a litany of rigorous requirements. An
applicant:
1. Must be male. Women are not
permitted to apply
2. Must be Roman Catholic
3. Must be a citizen of Switzerland
4. Must be at least 1.74 meters tall
5. Must be between 19 and 30 years of age.
However, a retire guard, who is over 30, may be able to return in exceptional
cases.
6. Must be single. However, a guard
may be permitted to marry if he is over 25 years of age, has already completed
at least 3 years in service, is at least of a Corporal rank, and commits to
serve for an additional 3 years
7. Must have a high school degree or a
professional diploma
8. Must have completed service with the
Swiss army, (usually from an elite unit, like the mountaineer or Marine divisions). After getting enlisted, they undergo further training,
especially in unarmed combat techniques and in countering terrorist
attacks.
9. Must commit a minimum of 2 years
10. Must be of great moral and ethical
upstanding
The Swiss Guard has a reputation for self-sacrifice and bravery,
as demonstrated during the sack of Rome in 1527, when all but 42 of the 189
guardsmen died defending Pope Clement VII. The Swiss Guards prepared for
similar self-sacrifice during World War II, when the vastly outnumbered
guardsmen took up defensive positions as German forces rolled into Rome; Adolf
Hitler, however, chose not to attack the Vatican.
