GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA. — This is a corps of Swiss soldiers serving in Vatican City (Cohors pedestris Helvetiorum a sacra custodia Pontificis).
As early as the 14th century, some Swiss soldiers were serving the Holy See in the Papal States, as they were in the other states. In the 15th century, mention is made of them in the various possessions of the supreme pontiffs.
Sixtus IV (1471–1484) apparently attempted several times to reach agreements with the federal states, or the various Swiss cantons, for the purpose of carrying out regular recruitment there.
Julius II then conceived the idea of forming a permanent and disciplined corps of Swiss soldiers directly subordinate to the Holy See, for the immediate custody of the Sacred Person of the Supreme Pontiff and of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces. Thus, on 21 June 1501, he informed the «confederatis Superioris Alemanniae» that he had charged Pietro Von Hertenstein, «cubiculario nostro», with bringing 200 Swiss soldiers to Rome to guard the Apostolic Palace, providing him and Captain Gaspare de Silinon with a safe-conduct for the journey. On 21 January 1506, 150 Swiss soldiers arrived in Rome and, led by the two aforementioned officers, entered through the Porta del Popolo and proceeded to Piazza S. Pietro, where the Supreme Pontiff blessed them from the loggia of Paul II. This date and this solemn entry are now regarded by the GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA as the official foundation of the corps; its fourth centenary was celebrated in 1906.
They immediately gave proof of their fidelity to the Supreme Pontiff, since 147 of them fell during the sack of Rome in 1527.
The supreme pontiffs concluded further capitulations, or tacit renewals of the previous ones, for the recruitment of the GUARDIA SVIZZERA PONTIFICIA. On several occasions they were dismissed or disbanded, sharing the fortunes of the Holy See.
Pius X, with new regulations of 13 March 1914, reorganized the corps, which consists of 6 officers (including the commanding captain), a chaplain, 15 non-commissioned officers, and 115 guards (halberdiers), selected from among natives of the Swiss cantons, with the exception of Ticino. Responsibility for recruiting and completing the corps is entrusted to the captain. The recruits swear upon the company’s flag to serve faithfully the Supreme Pontiff and his legitimate successors and, in the event of a vacant see, the Sacred College of Cardinals. This oath is taken every year in a picturesque ceremony in the Belvedere courtyard of the Vatican Palace.
The commanding captain, who holds the rank of colonel, is a member of the noble papal antechamber and is by right a participating cape (v.). The lieutenant and the second lieutenant, with the rank of major, are by right honorary chamberlains of sword
Benedict XV, by dispatch of the Cardinal Secretary of State dated 20 May 1919, decided that the G. s. p. should take precedence over the Guardia palatina d'onore.
The custody of the Sacred Person of the Supreme Pontiff is entrusted to the G. s. p. It also guards the pope’s residence day and night, especially at the external entrances. It serves in all the papal chapels and at other functions and for this reason also receives orders from the monsignor majordomo. During a vacancy of the See it is under the orders of the cardinal camerlengo until the cardinals enter the Conclave, which it guards. From that moment until the election of the new supreme pontiff, the G. s. p. has as its superiors the cardinal heads of the orders and the marshal of the Conclave.
In the fundamental law of the State of Vatican City (7 June 1929), the direct dependence of the G. s. p. on the supreme pontiff was reaffirmed (art. 2), but it was additionally established that the governor of the State of Vatican City, for purposes of security and police, may also request the assistance of the G. s. p. insofar as necessary (art. 7).
The G. s. p. still wears its characteristic uniform, attributed to Michelangelo.