Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up VATICAN CITY, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The world’s smallest army, in the world’s smallest state, is growing and looking for some good men. The Swiss Guard, the elite and colorfully dressed force whose primary mission is to protect the Pope and the 108-acre Vatican City, currently has 110 members. Ahead of the Holy Year of 2025, when millions of pilgrims are expected to visit the Vatican, the force will increase by 25 members to 135 members, an increase of almost 23%. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up In order to help with recruitment, the Swiss Guard has opened a new media office and contact point in Switzerland, according to a statement released by the Guard on Thursday. It will also coordinate the work of an existing recruitment office in Switzerland, institutions related to the Swiss Guard and former members. Enrollment is open to unmarried Swiss men between the ages of 19-31 who are practicing Catholics in good health, of “impeccable reputation and at least 1.74 meters (5 feet, seven inches) tall and have completed basic training in the Swiss Army “, according to the guard’s website. They can marry after serving for five years. The force, whose main mission is to protect the pope, has been all-male since it was founded in 1506. But that could change. Their new barracks in the Vatican, work on which is expected to begin in 2026, will be built to accommodate female members if Pope Francis or his successors allow them to join, officials said. read more Francis, 85, has appointed women to various senior and managerial positions in the Vatican administration and in March introduced a landmark new constitution that will allow any baptized lay Catholic, including women, to lead most Vatican departments. A Swiss foundation has already raised more than 37 million Swiss francs of the estimated 45 million Swiss francs needed to replace the current 150-year-old barracks. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Report by Philip Pullella Edited by Bernadette Baum Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
title: “Wanted 25 Men To Guard The Pope. He Must Be Catholic. He Must Be Swiss Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-03” author: “Carol Merritt”
Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up VATICAN CITY, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The world’s smallest army, in the world’s smallest state, is growing and looking for some good men. The Swiss Guard, the elite and colorfully dressed force whose primary mission is to protect the Pope and the 108-acre Vatican City, currently has 110 members. Ahead of the Holy Year of 2025, when millions of pilgrims are expected to visit the Vatican, the force will increase by 25 members to 135 members, an increase of almost 23%. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up In order to help with recruitment, the Swiss Guard has opened a new media office and contact point in Switzerland, according to a statement released by the Guard on Thursday. It will also coordinate the work of an existing recruitment office in Switzerland, institutions related to the Swiss Guard and former members. Enrollment is open to unmarried Swiss men between the ages of 19-31 who are practicing Catholics in good health, of “impeccable reputation and at least 1.74 meters (5 feet, seven inches) tall and have completed basic training in the Swiss Army “, according to the guard’s website. They can marry after serving for five years. The force, whose main mission is to protect the pope, has been all-male since it was founded in 1506. But that could change. Their new barracks in the Vatican, work on which is expected to begin in 2026, will be built to accommodate female members if Pope Francis or his successors allow them to join, officials said. read more Francis, 85, has appointed women to various senior and managerial positions in the Vatican administration and in March introduced a landmark new constitution that will allow any baptized lay Catholic, including women, to lead most Vatican departments. A Swiss foundation has already raised more than 37 million Swiss francs of the estimated 45 million Swiss francs needed to replace the current 150-year-old barracks. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Report by Philip Pullella Edited by Bernadette Baum Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
title: “Wanted 25 Men To Guard The Pope. He Must Be Catholic. He Must Be Swiss Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Michael Rodriguez”
Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up VATICAN CITY, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The world’s smallest army, in the world’s smallest state, is growing and looking for some good men. The Swiss Guard, the elite and colorfully dressed force whose primary mission is to protect the Pope and the 108-acre Vatican City, currently has 110 members. Ahead of the Holy Year of 2025, when millions of pilgrims are expected to visit the Vatican, the force will increase by 25 members to 135 members, an increase of almost 23%. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up In order to help with recruitment, the Swiss Guard has opened a new media office and contact point in Switzerland, according to a statement released by the Guard on Thursday. It will also coordinate the work of an existing recruitment office in Switzerland, institutions related to the Swiss Guard and former members. Enrollment is open to unmarried Swiss men between the ages of 19-31 who are practicing Catholics in good health, of “impeccable reputation and at least 1.74 meters (5 feet, seven inches) tall and have completed basic training in the Swiss Army “, according to the guard’s website. They can marry after serving for five years. The force, whose main mission is to protect the pope, has been all-male since it was founded in 1506. But that could change. Their new barracks in the Vatican, work on which is expected to begin in 2026, will be built to accommodate female members if Pope Francis or his successors allow them to join, officials said. read more Francis, 85, has appointed women to various senior and managerial positions in the Vatican administration and in March introduced a landmark new constitution that will allow any baptized lay Catholic, including women, to lead most Vatican departments. A Swiss foundation has already raised more than 37 million Swiss francs of the estimated 45 million Swiss francs needed to replace the current 150-year-old barracks. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Report by Philip Pullella Edited by Bernadette Baum Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
title: “Wanted 25 Men To Guard The Pope. He Must Be Catholic. He Must Be Swiss Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-02” author: “Claudia Jackson”
Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up VATICAN CITY, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The world’s smallest army, in the world’s smallest state, is growing and looking for some good men. The Swiss Guard, the elite and colorfully dressed force whose primary mission is to protect the Pope and the 108-acre Vatican City, currently has 110 members. Ahead of the Holy Year of 2025, when millions of pilgrims are expected to visit the Vatican, the force will increase by 25 members to 135 members, an increase of almost 23%. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up In order to help with recruitment, the Swiss Guard has opened a new media office and contact point in Switzerland, according to a statement released by the Guard on Thursday. It will also coordinate the work of an existing recruitment office in Switzerland, institutions related to the Swiss Guard and former members. Enrollment is open to unmarried Swiss men between the ages of 19-31 who are practicing Catholics in good health, of “impeccable reputation and at least 1.74 meters (5 feet, seven inches) tall and have completed basic training in the Swiss Army “, according to the guard’s website. They can marry after serving for five years. The force, whose main mission is to protect the pope, has been all-male since it was founded in 1506. But that could change. Their new barracks in the Vatican, work on which is expected to begin in 2026, will be built to accommodate female members if Pope Francis or his successors allow them to join, officials said. read more Francis, 85, has appointed women to various senior and managerial positions in the Vatican administration and in March introduced a landmark new constitution that will allow any baptized lay Catholic, including women, to lead most Vatican departments. A Swiss foundation has already raised more than 37 million Swiss francs of the estimated 45 million Swiss francs needed to replace the current 150-year-old barracks. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Report by Philip Pullella Edited by Bernadette Baum Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
