Pontifical Swiss Guard

The Pontifical Swiss Guard has its origins in the 15th century.

The church previously served as the chapel of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard has served the popes since the 16th century.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is one of the oldest active military units presently in existence.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard banner is a square divided by a white cross into quarters.

In the Pontifical Swiss Guard there are two corporal ranks:

Members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard have long given Vatican employees their permission to enter.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard wears large black berets.

Since 1970, the Pontifical Swiss Guard has been the only active military in Vatican City.

When his name is called, each new guard approaches the Pontifical Swiss Guard's flag, grasping the banner in his left hand.

The other two quarters display the Pontifical Swiss Guard's colours, and in the middle of the cross is the commander's own coat-of-arms.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard commissioned in 1671 the church's façade in neoclassical style.

During a conclave two Pontifical Swiss Guards protect the Sistine Chapel doors.

The 101 members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard constituted 18% of the total, and there were only 55 other lay persons with Vatican citizenship.

In 1977 Estermann served briefly in the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican.

Outside the Papal bedroom are two Pontifical Swiss Guards guarding the vicinity, operating day and night shifts.

In 1923, Schiess began serving with the Pontifical Swiss Guard at Vatican City and continued his education here until 1927.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is featured in the video game Medieval II: Total War.

Vatican City has within its territory the Pontifical Swiss Guard or Swiss Guard.

For instance, recruits to the Pontifical Swiss Guard take their oath in the language of the canton to which they belong: German, French or Italian.

About 40% of the Swiss population are Catholics, and young Swiss men have served for centuries in the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

In 7 February 2015, it was announced that Pope Francis appointed Graf as the new Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

Elmar Theodor Mäder (born 28 July 1963) was the thirty-third and former Commandant of the Pontifical Swiss Guards.

While there was broken continuity during the Spanish Civil War, this could mean that the Spanish regiment predated the Pontifical Swiss Guard by up to 257 years.

The Corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard or Swiss Guard (Ger: Schweizergarde, Ital.