The Swiss Guard at the Vatican

The Vatican City is a state, and as such, has its own security force. The task of the Swiss Guard is the protection of the Pope, a task that was given in 1506, even before the founding of the Vatican State. The army is the smallest in the world, amounting to about 100 soldiers. Their motto is "Honour and Fidelity", and they dedicate every day ensuring the security of the Vatican State and its visible head of state, the Pope. Every May 6 soldiers are recruited, they must be Swiss citizens, single, Catholic, aged from 19 to 30 years-of-age, with a minimum height of 1.74 meters, and also must have passed through the Swiss military training school.

The Swiss Guard is a military body established in 1506, consisting of about one hundred members (including two drummers and a chaplain), responsible, together with the Italian police, for the custody of the San Pedro Square. The members are Swiss boys aged 19 to 30 years - unmarried, Catholic and with a height of more than 1.74 m. They wear a colorful dress uniform of red, yellow and blue, originally designed by Michelangelo and a helmet as worn by Spanish soldiers in the sixteenth century.

It’s odd how the smallest state in Europe (only 282 permanent residents) can have 110 Swiss Guards. The Swiss Guards institution dates back to the 16th century when Pope Julius II created a permanent personal guard duty of 200 Swiss guards. During those turbulent times, the guard proved its valor and piety defending the Vatican during the various attacks on Rome. Every June 6th, there’s a celebration in honor of their founding. Many say that their uniform (which, by the way, hasn't changed in centuries) was designed by Michelangelo.