Protecting the Pope
New recruits with the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard get ready for their swearing-in ceremony.
The Swiss Guard, founded in 1506, has the job of defending the pope and his residence. To be recruited, candidates have to meet certain, highly specific requirements: among other things, they must be of Swiss nationality, Catholic, single, under 30 years old, and at least 174 cm (5 foot 8 1/2 inches) tall.
A new recruit with the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard gets ready before the swearing-in ceremony.
New recruits like these are sworn in every year on May 6 to commemorate the day when 147 Swiss soldiers died defending the pope during an attack on Rome in 1527.
For the swearing-in ceremony, the guards wear chest armour and a traditional striped "Gran Gala" uniform.
Guards' uniforms are specially made at a tailoring workshop inside the guards' district.
A new recruit adjusts his helmet in the mirror before the swearing-in ceremony.
A new recruit is silhouetted in a doorway. His duties as a Swiss Guard will include protecting the pope and guarding the entrances to the Vatican City.
New recruits stand to attention during the swearing-in ceremony.
A new recruit looks up at the sky.
Recruits march past spectators during the ceremony.
Light shines off the new recruits' armour as they march.
A new recruit places one hand on the Guard's flag and raises his other to the sky as he takes his oath.
The new recruits stand to attention during the ceremony.
