What is the Swiss Guard, the military body sworn to protect the pope?
The Swiss Guard is a military body tasked with protecting the pope.
135 men make up the Swiss Guard.
Swiss Guard recruits must be a single man between the age of 19-30 who is a practicing Catholic and Swiss citizen.
Swiss Guard recruits train for about two months before they start work.
As the late Pope Francis greeted thousands of guests in Vatican City on Easter Sunday, the Swiss Guard was not far, watching over the pontiff as it has done for more than 500 years.
At the age of 88, Pope Francis died on the morning of Monday, April 21. The pontiff had spent the better part of the year at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital battling various health issues before he ultimately succumbed to a stroke and irreversible heart failure.
Francis' funeral will be held at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET) on Saturday, April 26 in St. Peter's Square, a ceremony that will draw countless worshipers and leaders from across the globe. President Donald Trump shared on Monday that he will attend the funeral.
As the world prepares for a day of both solace and celebration, here's a better look at the Swiss Guard, the independent military corps that's been protecting the Catholic pope since the 1500s.
What is the Swiss Guard?
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, more commonly referred to as just the Swiss Guard, is a military body made up of Swiss men whose main task is to monitor the safety of the pope. Specifically, the Swiss Guard accompanies the pope to public appearances, guards Vatican City and protects the College of Cardinals during a conclave (the election of a new pope), according to The Holy See. The Swiss Guard reports directly to the pontiff.
How long has the Swiss Guard been around?
The Swiss Guard was established in 1506 by Pope Julius II, according to The Holy See. From 2025, that's 519 years ago.
How many people are in the Swiss Guard?
The Swiss Guard is made up of 135 men, according to The Holy See.
How do you get into the Swiss Guard?
The Swiss Guard isn't just for anybody. Candidates for the Swiss Guard must be a man between the age of 19 and 30 who is a practicing Catholic and Swiss citizen, according to the official Swiss Guard website. A candidate must also have "impeccable health," determined by medical examinations and "impeccable reputation."
A Swiss Guard candidate must have completed a CFC apprenticeship or have a maturity certificate, which help verify an individual's faith, and have completed a military recruit school.
At the time of joining the guard, a candidate must be single. To be eligible for marriage, a guard must be at least 25 years old and have served for five years and commit to another three, the official Swiss Guard website states.
Finally, a candidate must be prepared to commit to the guard for at least 26 months − that's 2 years and 2 months.
What type of training does the Swiss Guard receive?
Basic training for the Swiss Guard is typically two months long.
For the first month, recruits train with the Ticino Cantonal Police at the Swiss Police and Army Training Center in Isone, Switzerland. Here, the recruits learn firefighting, first aid, shooting, personal safety, self-defense, tactical behavior and the notions of law, the official Swiss Guard website states.
For the second month, recruits train at the Pontifical Swiss Guard Headquarters in Vatican City. They learn proper saluting, individual and group formations, guard changes and how to handle the halberd, a weapon used throughout the 13th to 16th centuries that combines an ax blade with a spike or hook. Recruits also learn Italian, if they aren't already fluent.
What do the Swiss Guard wear?
The Swiss Guard hardly blends in with its traditionally "loud" attire.
The most recognizable uniform worn by the Swiss Guard is the gala uniform, which features blue, red and yellow stripes down the entire ensemble. During different events, the guards will add white gloves, a black helmet and/or the halberd.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to add a new photo gallery.
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