The Swiss Guards attended the ceremony at the Vatican to swear in 27 new soldiers, wearing their new uniforms.

The San Damaso Courtyard in the Vatican is festively decorated with the flags of the Swiss cantons for the swearing-in ceremony this afternoon, October 4, of 27 recruits to the Swiss Guard.   On Saturday afternoon at a pomp-filled event in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, the new Swiss Guards took a solemn oath to serve the pope.

The new Swiss-made uniform – which does not replace the famous “Gala” uniform – is to be used for non-ceremonial formal occasions such as diplomatic receptions and official dinners outside the Vatican. Until now, the officers wore “personal suits” on these occasions, which did not fully reflect the identity of the Corps. The mostly black wool uniform has two rows of buttons, with a yellow and white belt, in an update of the “mezza gala” uniform used from the late 19th century until 1976.

Despite a popular legend, their famed blue, gold and red uniform was not designed by Michelangelo but rather by Commander Jules Repond in the early 1900s, based on the colours of the Medici family.

The annual ritual normally takes place on 6 May but was postponed this year following the death of Pope Francis and the conclave to elect his successor, Pope Leo XIV. The traditional 6 May date commemorates the day in 1527 when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting Pope Clement VII from the army of the Holy Roman Emperor. The pope fled via the 800-m Passetto di Borgo passageway – which is open for guided tours – to the nearby refuge of Castel Sant’Angelo. The current Swiss Guards belong to the world’s oldest standing army which celebrated its 519th anniversary on 22 January this year. Those seeking to join the ranks must meet certain criteria: they must be male and of Swiss nationality, as well as being Catholic, unmarried and aged between 19 and 30. They must also have undergone intensive Swiss military training and be a minimum height of 174 cm. The soldiers generally serve for between two and 25 years at the Vatican, in the service of the pope.

The Pope to the Swiss Guards: Understanding the Importance of Discipline and Sacrifice

Leo XIV participates in the “beautiful” swearing-in ceremony in the Courtyard of San Damaso of the Apostolic Palace. In thanking the recruits, he emphasizes the value of their witness in today’s world, a way of living the faith “that truly speaks to all young people of the value of giving one’s life, of serving, and of thinking of others.”