The Swiss Guard, a centuries-old community of Swiss Abroad in the Vatican

That is what made Pope Julius II seek the services of Swiss soldiers in 1505. He made a request to the Swiss Diet for a contingent of Swiss soldiers to protect the Vatican. On 22 January 1506, the first 150 guards entered Rome and received the pope’s blessing. That was the day when the Pontifical Swiss Guard was founded, and it has been in charge of guarding the pope and the Papal Palace ever since.

The Pontificia Cohors Helvetica is the only military unit from those days to still be operational. It achieved great fame on 6 May 1527 when Rome was attacked and plundered by 24,000 German, Spanish and Italian mercenaries – known as the Sack of Rome. The Swiss Guard resisted the attackers and gave Pope Clemens VII the space and time to get away. Only 42 of the 189 guards survived. The Swiss Guard saved the pope’s life. New recruits are still sworn in on 6 May, the anniversary of the Sack of Rome.

The current duties of the papal guard

Their role has not changed much over the years. Today’s guards must be vigilant and protect the pope from new threats, terrorist attack for example. If the Holy See is vacant (sede vacante) the Swiss Guard also assumes responsibility for protecting the College of Cardinals. In addition, they secure the official entrances to Vatican City and perform formal and ceremonial duties. Their representative duties include forming a guard of honour for state visits.

Another distinguishing feature of the Swiss Abroad in Vatican City is that anyone who works in or for the Vatican receives Vatican City citizenship for as long as their work lasts. That means the guards quickly gain citizenship in their country of emigration, albeit only for a limited period. Vatican City also has an unusual form of government as the only elective absolute monarchy. The Holy See has observer status in the UN. The Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with over 180 states, over 90 of which have a representation on site. With more than 1.3 billion believers plus a large, global network, the Holy See has political power as large as the territory itself is small.

Papal Guard as a symbol of Switzerland in the Vatican

Despite this political significance and the existence of the Swiss Guard, it was not until 2021 that the Swiss government decided to open an embassy at the Holy See in Rome. The Holy See, on the other hand, has been represented in Berne by a Nunciature (‘papal envoy’) since 1920. Due to complicated bilateral relations, not least domestic political tension between the Protestant and Catholic camps, it took some time until Switzerland was ready to have its interests represented on Vatican City territory. In 2023, the new Swiss embassy at the Holy See was inaugurated by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in Rome.

Up to the 1990s, bilateral relationships were covered unilaterally via the Nunciature in Berne. In 1991, the Federal Council nominated an ambassador to serve as special envoy and from 2004 designated a plenipotentiary who resided in another state and dealt with the Holy See in multiple accreditation; the most recent residence was in Slovenia.