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PHOTOS: Vatican welcomes 26 Swiss Guards into world's oldest army

The swearing-in ceremony for the new recruits took place in the Vatican today.

TWENTY-SIX SWISS MEN have joined the oldest standing army in the world, swearing to give up their lives to protect the pope as the Vatican’s newest Swiss Guards.

The swearing-in ceremony took place earlier today inside the Vatican auditorium — a last-minute change due to rain. Usually it is held in the St. Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace.

The ceremony is held each 6 May to commemorate the day in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome.

The guards, who sign up for a minimum of two years, must be upstanding, single, Swiss Catholic men under age 30. Famous for their blue-and-gold uniforms, halberds (spearlike weapons), and crimson-plumed helmets, they protect the pope, provide ceremonial duty and assist at Vatican functions.

Vatican Swiss Guards
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  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca
  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca
  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca
  • Vatican Swiss Guards

    Source: AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca

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22 Comments
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    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
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    May 6th 2012, 4:06 PM

    I don’t think the Vatican was around 2000 years ago!
    These Swiss army guys are well trained. I wouldn’t mess with them.

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    Mute Limerick
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    May 6th 2012, 4:50 PM

    Exactly! The attire in the picture is purely ceremonial. They’re equipped with machine guns etc and are extremely well trained!

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    May 6th 2012, 6:26 PM

    OOOOH I’m scared! I suppose they have to guard all that art, gold and money some way.

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    Mute Chris Coffey
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    May 7th 2012, 3:07 AM

    Yeh all of that… Or, you know, the pope? Do you think that the single figurehead at the top of a world religion, one of the most powerful individuals on the planet is not at risk?

    I understand you’re keen to get the digs in but lets not be naive about why the Vatican has always, and will always require an armed security force.

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    Mute Colm Flaherty
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    May 6th 2012, 7:41 PM

    I’m not in the habit of mocking any man or woman who puts on a uniform & pledges their lives to the defence of a nation.

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    Mute Paul Lanigan
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    May 7th 2012, 12:54 AM

    The Vatican isn’t a nation. And who are they protecting it from.

    They are highly trained guards, there to protect the Vatican wealth.

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    Mute Kevin Collins
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    May 6th 2012, 6:31 PM

    “upstanding, single, Swiss Catholic men under age 30″

    who gets to vet the ‘talent’ ??

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    Mute Denis Buckley
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    May 6th 2012, 2:16 PM

    lol… Vatican Killed Christ… 2012 years and Still Everyone is none the wiser…

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    May 6th 2012, 3:14 PM

    I wonder do the new guards have to swear that they are not homosexual and have never had sex?

    The pope/catholic church/vatican would fall very quickly today if the people decided to attack. A few young chaps dressed in idiotic dress is not going to stop the people!

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    Mute Chris Coffey
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    May 6th 2012, 5:56 PM

    I dont know about you Sheila but armed soldiers would certainly stop me.

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    Mute Gary Sétanta Heary
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    May 6th 2012, 6:13 PM

    “A bunch of young chaps dressed in idiotic dress” Seriously Shelia you are an absolute fool, you know nothing about the Swiss guard but decided to spout rubbish. They are not some young chaps, as membership is reserved for men who have served in the Swiss military and received honours and good conduct merits.

    As for your plan to storm the Vatican, trust me, when it comes to a military group who have spent the last 500 years honing their skills and disciplines to full fill a constant aim, I would not mess with them.

    And as for idiotic dress, they actually wear modest Blue uniforms, the robes designed by DaVinci are only for ceremonies, most armies wear overly pretentious dress uniforms for ceremonies, not just the Swiss guards.

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    May 6th 2012, 6:24 PM

    @Gary setanta hairy

    You fool yourself!! lighten up you wally. Who said anyone was going to storm the vatican? Did I say I was going to? you fool!

    Name calling does not upset me gary, I would hope you don’t speak to people on a day to day basis like that especially in the Irish army uniform!

    Your immaturity shows in your answer. There is no need to name call. Just be adult about it and explain.

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    Mute Sean Davids
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    May 6th 2012, 6:38 PM

    Put the shovel down sheila!

    63
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    Mute Denis Buckley
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    May 6th 2012, 2:19 PM

    2012 Years And Still None the Wiser! the Vatican Murdered Jesus. WAKE UP SHEEPLE!……….

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    Mute Spud Murphy
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    May 6th 2012, 8:56 PM

    go back to sleep Denis, you wee daftie.

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    Mute Paul Tydings
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    May 6th 2012, 3:35 PM

    An army …..and the Vatican and pope claim its in name of god tut tut tut..does bible not say murder is wrong.

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    Mute Sean Davids
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    May 6th 2012, 4:10 PM

    They’re a personal guard not an army big difference.

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    Mute Oaklane1
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    May 7th 2012, 2:01 AM

    Murder is wrong, killing in self defense is not.

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    Mute Sean Anthony O'Donoghue
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    May 6th 2012, 6:34 PM

    ‘Where could i buy some vatican euro’s?……
    enough of that other sort of chat………………………..
    ..

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    Mute Martin Grehan
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    May 7th 2012, 1:23 AM

    Defenders of man who covered up child abuse scandals. Honorable profession that :)

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    Mute Jimmy Riddle
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    May 7th 2012, 1:15 AM

    Anyone who decides to attack the pope will get drummed to death (that is if they haven’t already died laughing at the fancy dress brigade).

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    May 7th 2012, 11:51 AM

    @Chris Coffey

    I agree, if a group really wanted to kill the Pope, they could do it any time he’s ‘out and about’. I would love to know what sort of secrets they hold in the vatican, but sadly I feel some of them would give untold sadless to many millions of people.

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