VATICAN CORNER
At the Vatican on May 6, 2017, Pope Francis and the president of Switzerland, Doris Leuthard, held a cordial discussion on such subjects as: the reception of migrants, youth employment, terrorism, environmental protection and the fate of Europe. Their meeting coincided with the swearing-in of 40 new soldiers to the Pontifical Swiss Guard. They are the first group of recruits to go through the new model of training, which includes a month of instruction at the famous Swiss Guard’s school at Isone, Switzerland, before beginning their courses at the Vatican. Each year on May 6th new recruits are sworn in at an impressive, and ancient ceremony in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. Before the ceremony Francis met with the Guard, the new recruits and their families and friends. He said that the presence of so many visitors from Switzerland, “manifests the affection of Swiss Catholics for the Holy See, Christian education, and the good example through which the parents have transmitted to their children the faith, the value of pertaining to the Christian community, and the significance of ecclesial service.” Pope Francis recalled that the ceremony takes place on the anniversary of the Sack of Rome, when 147 Swiss Guards gave their lives to defend the pope. He told the Guard that today they “are not called to this heroic offering of their physical life, but rather to another sacrifice no less arduous: to serve… the power of the faith. This is an effective barrier to resist the various forces and powers of this world, and above all … the father of lies, who goes about like a lion, seeking someone to devour.” Pope Francis emphasized the importance of spiritual growth for the new Guards during their time in Rome. He invited them to support one another in leading an exemplary Christian life, and to consider themselves as “missionary disciples committed to bearing witness to the Gospel” both in their work and in their free time in Rome. Pope Francis has wanted the Swiss Guard to be less rigid in their rules, even “less military”. Back in December, 2014, he made the decision to dismiss Daniel Anrig the commandant of the Guard, and it was widely rumored that he found the commander’s manner overly strict and “Teutonic”. Francis was appalled one time when he emerged from his suite in the morning and found that a Swiss Guardsman had been standing guard all night. “Sit down,” He told the young guardsman, but the soldier said: “I can’t, it’s against orders.” The Pope replied: “I give the orders around here,” and promptly went to buy a cappuccino for the exhausted soldier. Protocol has always demanded that pontiffs should treat the Swiss Guardsmen with aloofness, and Francis is breaking with tradition, talking with and shaking hands with the guardsmen. The Pope dislikes security in general.
To be continued …Sources: news.va, telegraph.co.uk