President Parmelin to pay a visit to the Pope and the Swiss Guard at the Vatican
Bern, 29.04.2021 - President Guy Parmelin is to pay a visit to the Vatican next week, where he will meet with Pope Francis and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new recruits of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
The meetings on Thursday, 6 May, will focus on bilateral relations between Switzerland and the Holy See, and the Swiss Guard. Since 2018, the Pontifical Swiss Guard has gradually been expanded from 110 to 135 men. This year 34 new recruits from all over Switzerland will be sworn in. There are plans to renovate the Guard’s barracks within the next few years.
The Swiss delegation will also include National Council president Andreas Aebi and Council of States president Alex Kuprecht. In Rome the delegation will visit the Istituto Svizzero di Roma (ISR), which works with various agencies of the Federal Administration to promote Swiss cultural and economic activities in Italy.
The swearing-in ceremony is usually attended by Swiss political and military representatives, as well as by representatives from Switzerland’s religious communities. Due to the coronavirus situation, attendance at this year’s ceremony will be greatly reduced; there will be no guest canton this year.
The Swiss Guard was founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II and is under the Pope’s orders. Its task is to protect the pontiff and perform ceremonial duties. The swearing-in of new Swiss Guards traditionally takes place on 6 May in memory of the 147 soldiers who fell during the Sack of Rome (Sacco di Roma) in 1527.
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