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Anniversary of the
Pontifical Swiss Guard

Lou Giorgetti

Pontifical Swiss Guards, 500th Anniversary
Scott 1315-1316 (2005)
January 22 marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first members of the Swiss Guards in Rome. On this date in 1506, following the efforts of Pope Julius II to procure the services of this mercenary force, a group of 150 guards marched into the city, culminating a four-month trek from modern-day Switzerland. They were under the command of Kaspar von Silenen, who is recognized as the first commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guards. January 22 is thus viewed as the date of the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard, and for over 500 years, this force has served to protect the Pope and the Vatican.

What is the role of the world’s smallest “army” (consisting of a fixed force of 135 members)? In addition to protecting the pope while he is within the boundaries of Vatican City, the Swiss Guard's duties include the maintenance of his security during his apostolic travels and trips to extraterritorial properties such as Castel Gandolfo. They also protect the College of Cardinals during the interregnum period following the death of a pope. While serving as visible “watchmen” at the Vatican, they do not provide the overall security and law enforcement of the city-state. That role is the responsibility of the Corps of Gendarmerie.

In addition to their official arrival in Rome in 1506, the most significant date in the Guard’s history is May 6, 1527, when the Guard was involved in a hostile engagement during the Sack of Rome. When the troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V attacked the city, 147 members of the Guard (out of the total force of 189 Guards) died, while allowing Pope Clement VII to escape. Every year, on May 6, the Swiss Guard renew their pledge of loyalty to the pope in an official ceremony at the Vatican.

While most of the duties of the Swiss Guard appear to be ceremonial, following the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981 the Guard has evolved into a modern corps trained in advanced protection techniques. And members of the Guard, in addition to those sporting their colorful uniforms in public venues, now also patrol in plain clothes at the Vatican and while protecting the pope during his travels abroad.

Many articles on the Swiss Guards have appeared in Vatican Notes over the years and are available on the VPS website. One issue of the Notes is of particular interest. Published in 1957, the entire issue was dedicated to the Swiss Guard and featured a presentation entitled "I Served the Pope" by Anton Gahlinger, a retired Swiss Guard captain. The issue provides voluminous material on the Guard and can be accessed by clicking on the link in the References.

In addition to the Swiss Guard stamps shown at the top of this article, celebrating their 500th anniversary, Vatican City has honored the Guard on at least three other occasions. In 1956, a 450th anniversary set of six stamps was released. The Europa issue of 1997 (themed “Tales and Legends”) presented two stamps depicting members of the Guard, and the Europa issue of 2015 (themed “Old Toys”) has a whimsical stamp with two toy models of Guards.