Have you ever asked yourself how many Swiss Guards are there guarding the Vatican? What may seem like a simple and straightforward question to answer actually has many layers to it that you may not know of. Don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place to learn all about the mysterious Swiss Guards!
Contents
The Numbers of the Swiss Guards
The Current Guard
The Swiss Guards are the bodyguards of the Pontiff, and while they were initially formed in 1506 with only a mere 100 Swiss Soldiers then, these number have grown significantly in the years that followed. Currently, there are around 120 Swiss Guards protecting the Pope and safeguarding the Vatican.
Interesting enough, all of the guards serving the Vatican have to qualify and meet a few restrictions. Here they come:
- Be Catholic in faith
- Be Swiss Citizen
- Be between 19 and 30 years of age
- Be unmarried and without encumbrance
- Have at least a high-school-level education
- Have a proper military background
- Be at least 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall
Once in Rome, the guards have to go through a grueling selection process which includes physical and psychological testing. After that, all the new Swiss Guards must swear an oath of loyalty to the Pope. This is the reason why they have endured for over 500 years. Knowing that the Swiss Guards are devoted to the Holy See makes them even more impressive.
The Honor Guard
Since the election of Pope Francis in 2013, the Honor Guard underwent a few changes. The guards now take part in the colorful swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican every May in honor of Saint Sham Peter, the patron saint of the Swiss Guard. Luckily, the number of the Honor Guard members remains the same – one third of the total number of the Swiss Guards, which means that the total number of the Honor Guard is around 40.
The Swiss Guard Commander and his staff are also members of this honorable group. The Honor Guard members are easily recognizable from the other Swiss soldiers thanks to their helmets with old royal markings, their colorful uniforms and plumes, and their halberds (one-handed long-bladed weapon).
So the total number of Swiss Guards currently guarding the Vatican is around 120. It is no wonder why the Swiss guards have become a symbol of Catholic tradition, history and loyalty over the years. There is no other group of people with such unwavering commitment to tradition and religion quite like them, and that’s why we will have Swiss Guards for many years to come!