Press Release
Pontifical Swiss Guard
Oath Ceremony 2024
The solemn swearing-in of 34 Guards of the Pontifical Swiss Guard will take place, following tradition, on 6 May 2024 at 17.00 in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican Apostolic Palace.
Every year, the new guards take an oath on the occasion of the anniversary of the Sack of Rome, in which 189 Swiss Guards defended Pope Clement VII against the army of Charles V. The oath is taken on the flag of the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps and in the presence of the Holy Father's representative, His Excellency Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs at the Secretariat of State. The guards thus swear to protect and defend the incumbent Pope and all his legitimate successors, even at the risk of their own lives, as our valiant and faithful ancestors did in the past.
Formula of Oath (Read by the Chaplain)
“I swear that I will faithfully, loyally and honourably serve the Supreme Pontiff and his legitimate successors, and dedicate myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing, if necessary, my life to defend them.
I assume this same commitment with regard to the Sacred College of Cardinals whenever the Apostolic See is vacant. Furthermore, I promise the Captain Commandant and my other superiors respect, fidelity and obedience. I swear to observe all that the honour of my position demands of me”.
Response of the Guards with the flag
“I, Halbardier …, swear to diligently and faithfully abide by all that has just been read out. To me, so help me God and His Saints”.
Programme
5 May 2024
17.00 Vespers in the Church of “Santa Maria della Pietà in Campo Santo Teutonico”.
Followed by the laying of the wreath in honour of the fallen of 6 May 1527, with the conferring of honours in the "Square of the Roman Protomartyrs" by His Excellency Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.
6 May 2024
7.30 Holy Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
17.00 Swearing-in in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace (in the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Paul VI Hall).
The event will take place in a festive atmosphere. The Guards will wear there “Gran Gala” ceremonial uniform including armour, which will be worn for the “Urbi et Orbi” Papal blessing at Christmas and Easter.
A delegation from the Swiss Confederation will be present, led by the President of the Confederation Viola Amherd, with the President of the National Council Eric Nussbaumer and the President of the Council of States Brigitte Eva Herzog. In addition, the Head of the Army will be represented by Brigadier Jacques Frédéric Rüdin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and the representative of the Swiss Bishops' Conference, His Excellency Felix Gmür (President), Bishop of Basel, will be present. The delegation from this year's host canton, Basel-Landschaft, is led by the cantonal government and headed by the president of the cantonal government, Monica Gschwind.
It will be possible to watch the swearing-in via streaming on the official website of the Pontifical Swiss Guard: www.guardiasvizzera.ch.
Some information on the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps
The most ancient army in the world, founded by Pope Julius II on 22 January 1506, it is responsible for the protection of the Pope and his residence. Led by Colonel Christoph Graf (LU), it has the task of controlling access to the Vatican and to the Apostolic Palace, of guaranteeing order and respresentation during papal ceremonies and State receptions, and protecting the College of Cardinals when the Apostolic See is vacant. The Corps includes guards from all the linguistic regions of Switzerland. The majority of the members of the Corps come from the Canton of Fribourg (17), followed by Vallese (16) and San Gallo (13).
Further information on our Corps can be found on our website.
Information on the recruits
Rank, surname, name Place of origin Domicile
Halbardier AMANN Matthias Josemarìa Witterswil SO Ehrendingen AG
Halbardier ANRIG Adrian Rudolf Sargans SG Ziegelbrücke GL
Halbardier BESOMI Theophile Gaspar Marie Cugnasco-Gerra TI Puplinge GE
Halbardier BISTON Killian Monteceneri TI Carouge GE
Halbardier BLANCK Alexis Cortaillod NE Chavornay VD
Halbardier BROGER Marco Hansjörg Emil Gonten AI Igis GR
Halbardier CRETTAZ Julien Michel Emmanuel Vex VS Bramois VS
Halbardier DAMANN Nicola Damian Homburg TG Gossau SG
Halbardier DUCREST Etienne Gibloux FR Rossens FR
Halbardier DUDLE Alain Romeo Luzern LU Winterthur ZH
Halbardier FAVRE Gael Saint-Aubin FR Saint-Aubin FR
Halbardier FAVRE Lucas Sion VS Pont de la Morge VS
Halbardier FISCHER Maximilian Ansgar Ruswil LU Frauenfeld TG
Herbert Josef
Halbardier FREY Carlo Dominik Maria Bubendorf BL Gelterkinden BL
Halbardier FÜRST Florian Pascal Bassersdorf ZH Wädenswil ZH
Halbardier GAILLARD Gaétan Chamoson VS Conthey VS
Halbardier GRAS Martin André Marie Fribourg FR Lausanne VD
Halbardier HIRT Nicolas La Brillaz FR St. Ursen FR
Halbardier MAURON Nolann Bois-d’Amont FR Echarlens FR
Halbardier MEZGER Arthur Erik Zürich ZH Fribourg FR
Halbardier MOHR Thomas Oliver Neuenhof AG Birmenstorf AG
Halbardier MOSQUERA Alex Vevey VD Vevey VD
Halbardier PETER Renato Rudolf St. Gallen SG Buchs SG
Halbardier PORCINI Giacomo Lugano TI Carona TI
Halbardier QUINODOZ José St-Martin VS St-Martin VS
Halbardier RECHSTEINER Sven Niklas Eichberg SG Erlinsbach SO
Halbardier SCAFFETTA Gabriele Renato Locarno TI Locarno TI
Halbardier SEILNACHT Silvan Andreas Naters VS Lörrach D
Halbardier STEINBEISSER Jan André Mels-Weisstannen SG Neuhausen am Rheinfall SH
Halbardier TSCHERRIG Mario Roberto Zwischbergen VS Termen VS
Halbardier VAUCHER Rémy Châtonnaye FR Zénauva FR
Halbardier WALSER Michael David Urs Zug ZG Zug ZG
Halbardier WETTER Jan Appenzell AI Bütschwil SG
Halbardier WÜTHRICH Yohan Stephan Trub BE Mettembert JU
6 May 2024, Swearing in (in chronological order)
The guards will take their solemn oath in German (16), French (16), Italian (2) or Romansh (2) depending on their origin.
1. Hellebardier Tscherrig German
2. Alabardiere Scaffetta Italian
3. Hellebardier Fischer German
4. Hallebardier Vaucher French
5. Hallebardier Favre Lucas French
6. Hallebardier Crettaz French
7. Hellebardier Frey German
8. Hellebardier Broger German
9. Hallebardier Mauron French
10. Hellebardier Damann German
11. Hallebardier Mezger French
12. Hallebardier Gras French
13. Hellebardier Wetter German
14. Hellebardier Dudle German
15. Hallebardier Quinodoz French
16. Hellebardier Amann German
17. Hallebardier Blanck French
18. Hellebardier Walser German
19. Hallebardier Gaillard French
20. Hallebardier Biston French
21. Hellebardier Rechsteiner German
22. Hallebardier Besomi French
23. Hallebardier Hirt French
24. Hellebardier Steinbeisser German
25. Hellebardier Seilnacht German
26. Hallebardier Mosquera French
27. Hallebardier Ducrest French
28. Alabardiere Porcini Italian
29. Hallebardier Favre Gael French
30. Hellebardier Anrig German
31. Hellebardier Fürst German
32. Hallebardier Wüthrich French
33. Hellebardier Mohr German
34. Hellebardier Peter German
Media Officer of the Pontifical Swiss Guard
Corporal Eliah Cinotti
+39 06 698 98100
media@gsp.va
Journalists and media workers who wish to attend the events linked to the “Swearing-in ceremony 2024” of the Pontifical Swiss Guard must apply via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system at https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/accrediti/pubblico/accredito.html and the Pontifical Swiss Guard, via email, at media@gsp.va.
All applications must be received at least 48 hours before the event for which accreditation is requested.
Accreditation can be collected from the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione, 54, from Monday to Saturday, during the hours 11.00 to 13.00.
For particular conditions or problems solely regarding the accreditation procedure, please contact accreditamenti@salastampa.va or, by telephone, +39 06 698 45600 (Monday to Friday, from 11:00 to 13:00).
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Institutional Communiqué
Media Day – Preparation for the Swearing-in of the
Pontifical Swiss Guard
On 30 April 2024, the Pontifical Swiss Guard will offer the opportunity to witness the preparation for the Oath of Office on 6 May 2024, through the training of the recruits who will take the oath.
An extensive programme is reserved for journalists and media workers who wish to participate in this event. In view of the Oath of 6 May 2024, which commemorates the heroic sacrifice of the Swiss Guards during the Sack of Rome on 6 May 1527, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is offering the opportunity to observe the preparation of the swearing-in ceremony through the armour training of the recruits who will take the oath on 6 May 2024.
Journalists and media operators will have the opportunity to record the training, to interview some of the guards who will take the oath on 6 May, and to ask the Media Officer general questions regarding the Corps. The aim is to familiarize people with the preparation for the Oath and the specific work of the Swiss Guards during this period of the year.
Further information on the Corps is available at www.guardiasvizzera.ch
Contact: Corporal Eliah Cinotti / +39 06 698 98 100 / media@gsp.va
ACCREDITATION PROCEDURE
Journalists and media operators who wish to participate must apply, up to 48 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at www.press.va/accreditamenti.
