34 NEW SWISS GUARDS SWORN IN ON HISTORIC DAY – IN BRIEF

34 NEW SWISS GUARDS SWORN IN ON HISTORIC DAY

In case you missed it, 34 new Swiss Guards were sworn in at the Vatican yesterday, May 6. I posted the Vatican’s link to the 90-minute event on X (formerly Twitter), and also gave a report on “At Home with Jim and Joy.”

May 6 is always a special day in Vatican City as it marks the traditional swearing-in of new Swiss Guards in a colorful, historical ceremony in the San Damaso courtyard in the presence of civil and religious officials from the Vatican and Switzerland, as well as family members and friends.

I’ve been to a number of these ceremonies and they are indeed memorable for pomp and circumstance, and for the emotional moment a recruit raises three fingers of his right hand in honor of the Trinity while their left hand rests on the flag of the Swiss Guard Corps. Each recruit recites the oath in one of Switzerland’s four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.

A few images from a ceremony I attended – the “choreography” is the same every year:

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In yesterday’s ceremony, 34 new Swiss Guards took that oath, bringing the Vatican corps to 135 members. The morning began with Mass for the new recruits in Saint Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.  The Holy Father received the recruits, their family member and friends, in what is a traditional audience on May 6.

May 6 is the date of the ceremony as it marks the anniversary of the Sack of Rome in 1527 in which 189 Swiss Guards defended Pope Clement VII against the army of Charles V. Only 42 of the guards survived. As the guard’s website explains: “The day of the swearing- in ceremony is the high point in the life of each guard. When one swears on the Guard flag wearing the Gala uniform and the breastplate, a man swears loyalty for one’s whole life. Once a Swiss Guard – always a Swiss Guard.”

Recruits must be Swiss, male, single, Catholic, of “unblemished character,” have completed their Swiss military service, aged 19 to 30, 5’ 7” or taller and commit to serving the Pope for at least 26 months. They may marry after 5 years of service.

Their colorful uniforms, seen by visitors at all papal events and at the Sant’Anna entrance to Vatican City, may make them seem like an historical anachronism but they are not players on a stage. Their work is to protect the person of the pope and his legitimate successors as well as the Apostolic Palace, and they are trained in all kinds of weaponry. including the most modern anti-terrorism techniques. Recruits are also put through intense psychological tests to ensure they have the mental capacity to adapt to life as a Swiss Guard.  Guards work in six-hour shifts, sometimes 12 on busy days. They earn about €1,200 -$1,300 a month.

Sunday at the Regina Coeli, Pope Francis greeted in particular the Pontifical Swiss Guard and their families present for Monday’s swearing-in ceremony of new recruits. He thanked them for their generous service and asked everyone in the square to applaud them.

IN BRIEF

Expert Consultation in Vatican demands dignified work – In an interview with Vatican News, Monsignor Robert Vitillo, Secretary General of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), discusses how international experts participating in the Consultation in the Vatican, jointly sponsored by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will support rights and dignified conditions for workers, and will be an opportunity for effective social change. Expert Consultation in Vatican demands dignified work – Vatican News

#BeHuman: 30 Nobel Peace Prize laureates to attend human fraternity meeting – The second World Meeting on Human Fraternity, under the title #BeHuman, takes place on May 10-11 in Rome and Vatican City State and is organized by the Fratelli Tutti Foundation. Around 30 recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize will participate in the “Roundtable of Peace” and will release a “Charter of Humanity” on fraternal coexistence in this time of uncertainty and fear. #BeHuman: 30 Nobel Peace Prize laureates to attend human fraternity meeting – Vatican News

In May, Vatican to offer special Marian tour of Pope’s gardens – For the month of May, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Vatican Museums are offering a tour of the Pope’s gardens every Wednesday and Saturday dedicated to Marian spirituality.  “In the Marian month,” explains Sister Emanuela Edwards, “on Wednesdays, pilgrims are invited to join us after the papal audience for an exceptional opening of the Gardens in honor of the Madonna. Additionally, on Saturday mornings, traditionally dedicated to Mary, visitors can take advantage of this pilgrimage tour.”  Click here to make a reservation join one of these May tours. Families with children or people with sensory, motor, and intellectual disabilities can take advantage of a special service by emailing education.musei@scv.va  In May, Vatican to offer special Marian tour of Pope’s gardens – Vatican News

IN BRIEF

IN BRIEF

SATURDAY: The Vatican announced on June 3^rd that Pope Francis will visit Mongolia from August 31 to September 4. Mongolia has just under 1,500 Catholics but it does have a cardinal, Italian born Giorgio Marengo, apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar! Pope Francis to make Apostolic Journey to Mongolia – Vatican News Also: Cardinal Marengo: Pope’s Mongolia visit an encouragement for Catholics – Vatican News

ALSO SATURDAY: At noon, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, performed a penitential rite at the Altar of the Confession as required by canon law when a desecration of an altar takes place. Canon 1211 treats cases of desecration. Such an act happened last Thursday evening, just before the basilica closed, when a Polish man stripped naked and climbed atop the papal altar. The words “Save children of Ukraine” were written on his back in English. He was handed over to Italian police, according to an Italy-Holy See Treaty. Penitential rite held at St. Peter’s for desecration of Altar of Confession – Vatican News

MONDAY: Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, a special papal envoy, today began a two-day trip to Kyiv, Ukraine on a peace-seeking mission to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine. A Vatican communique announced the trip over the weekend. Zuppi’s appointment as papal envoy had been announced May 20. Cardinal Zuppi in Ukraine, exploring “ways to achieve a just peace” – Vatican News

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On this day in 1506, Pope Julius II laid the cornerstone for what would be the new St. Peter’s basilica. It was completed 120 years later.

The Motu proprio released yesterday on the voting age limit for bishops in Eastern Churches was the 62nd of Pope Francis’ pontificate.   Interestingly enough, Pope John Paul II, whose papacy lasted just under 27 years, issued only 30 motu proprio in that time (source: Motu Proprio | John Paul II (vatican.va)

IN BRIEF

POPE SETS EASTERN CHURCHES BISHOPS’ AGE LIMIT FOR VOTING AT SYNODS: In an Apostolic Letter issued in the form of a ‘Motu proprio’, Pope Francis amended the Canon Law of the Oriental Churches by providing that the bishops emeritus who have reached the age of 80 will no longer be able to vote in the Episcopal Synods of which they are members, though the rule does not apply to those who are already in office. The Pope’s decision meets a longstanding request made by “some Patriarchs, Major Archbishops and Bishops”, as reads the Latin title of the Motu proprio “Iam pridem” (“For some time now”). The text specifies that the new legislation, which will come into force in a month’s time, “will not apply to the Patriarchs, Major Archbishops, Eparchial Bishops and Exarchs” currently in office “despite them having reached the age of eighty.” (FULL TEXT: Pope sets Eastern Churches Bishops’ age limit for voting at Synods – Vatican News

POPE: 2024 OLYMPICS A CHANCE TO BEAR JOYFUL WITNESS TO CHRIST: As France prepares to host the 33rd Olympic Games in the summer of 2024, Pope Francis has sent a message to French Catholics to urge them to get involved in the sporting event. Paris hosts the Summer Olympics from July 26 to August 11, 2024, along with 16 other cities across metropolitan France and Tahiti, an island within French Polynesia. In his message, Pope Francis expressed his hopes that the Olympics may be “an occasion for profound and fruitful encounter between people from all walks of life, belonging to different peoples, cultures, and religions.”   The Pope said it should be a “joy to welcome the whole world” to France for the Games, as well as a “responsibility.” FULL STORY: Pope: 2024 Olympics a chance to bear joyful witness to Christ – Vatican News

 

IN BRIEF

IN BRIEF

POPE SAYS DIGNITY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS MUST BE PROTECTED: He emphasized this when addressing participants in the international conference “Women Building a Culture of Encounter Interreligiously,” organized by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at Rome’s Pontifical Urbaniana University, from January 25 to 27. “The fact that your Conference is devoted to listening to the experiences and perspectives of women is all the more valuable, since our quest for peace must increasingly involve…women. Because women bestow care and life upon the world: they are themselves a path towards peace.” The Holy Father encouraged their important work of sharing insight and best practices. “I am grateful to you for your commitment and effort to foster the dignity of women and girls in particular.” Pope: Dignity of women and girls must be protected – Vatican News

NEVER KEEP UP ON PEACE, POPE TELLS researchers and experts of the European Institute for International Studies in Salamanca.   The Institute’s work in education in international relations aims to prepare leaders to make a difference in the building of a better world. “Peace among men is an essential good for which we must work zealously and fervently beseech God,” Pope Francis said, reiterating his belief that “every war leaves the world worse off than it found it.” Reflecting on the concept of peace, the Pope said peace is a challenge “that it is not simply based on balances of power or on silencing the just demands of the less favoured”; but is instead an “essential good for which we must work zealously and fervently beseech God.” “War is a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful surrender, a defeat in the face of the forces of evil.” Pope Francis: Never give up the struggle for peace – Vatican News

POPE TO PHILANTHROPISTS: PROMOTE INTEGRAL GOOD OF THE PERSON – Greeting members of the Assifero Association, an Italian Association of Foundations and Philanthropic Bodies on its 20th anniversary, Pope Francis congratulated the members for the “clearly Christian-inspired approach with which you have structured your activities.” Francis noted that the Association brings together many private foundations in Italy and abroad that work in various fields “promoting the person and developing healthy and supportive social and economic models. …I would like to recommend that you pay particular attention in your programmes to three important values that, moreover, you already have in mind: the promotion of the integral good of the person; listening to local communities; and closeness to the least, never forgetting that one of God’s values is closeness.” Pope to philanthropists: Promote integral good of the person – Vatican News