Vatican City. Guardia svizzera pontificia
Administrative History
Vatican City. Guardia svizzera pontificia (1506- ) is in charge of protecting the Catholic Pope and Vatican City in Rome.
Vatican Security has changed greatly throughout time. One of the largest groups in charge of Vatican security is the Pontifical Swiss Guard. In 1506 Pope Julius II recruited Swiss mercenaries to become the Pontifical Swiss Guard for the Papal States. They continue to perform that function today and all recruits have special requirements. All recruits must be Catholic, unmarried males with Swiss citizenship who have completed basic training in the Swiss Army, be between the ages 19 and 30, and at least 174 cm (5 ft 9 in) in height. Other armed forces have been hired on and off for Vatican City, including, the Palatine Guard and the Noble Guard, which both were disbanded in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
Citation:
Die Schweizergarde der Päpste, c1992: t.p. (Guardia svizzera dei papi; Garde suisse des papes; Swiss Guard of the popes) p. 155 (Guardia svizzera pontificia = Guarde suisse pontifical = Pontifical Swiss Guard)LC data base, 07-21-94 (hdg.: Vatican. Guardia svizzera pontificia)
Le guardie del Papa, 2005: front flap of jkt. (Guardia svizzera pontificia) t.p. (Cohors elvetica)
Wikipedia, via WWW, June 18, 2015 (Vatican City; started 1506; Pontifical Swiss Guard, 1506 by Pope Julius II; must be Catholic, unmarried males, Swiss citizenship, completed basic training; 19-30 years old; 174 cm; other armed forces Palatine Guard and Noble guard; both disbanded 1970 by Pope Paul VI)
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Vatican Security letter to the Army of Philip II
Letter from the security at the Vatican to the army of Philip II. The Church gives the names of people traveling Europe and preaching revolutionary ideas about freedom of religion. The nation of Spain is blessed because of its faith to the church. At the bottom of the document the secretary of Philip II put the King's symbols as a sign of approval. Dated 1563.