Everybody Likes a Guy in Uniform

“Ich schwöre, treu, redlich und ehrenhaft zu dienen dem regierenden Papst ___ und seinen rechtmäßigen Nachfolgern, und mich mit ganzer Kraft für sie einzusetzen, bereit, wenn es erheischt sein sollte, selbst mein Leben für sie hinzugeben.  Ich übernehme dieselbe Verpflichtung gegenüber dem Heiligen Kollegium der Kardinäle während der Sedisvakanz des Apostolischen Stuhls.  Ich verspreche überdies dem Herrn Kommandanten und meinen übrigen Vorgesetzten Achtung, Treue und Gehorsam.  Ich schwöre, alles das zu beobachten, was die Ehre meines Standes von mir verlangt.  Ich, ___, schwöre, alles das, was mir soeben vorgelesen wurde, gewissenhaft und treu zu halten, so wahr mir Gott und seine Heiligen helfen.”

“Giuro di servire fedelmente, lealmente e onorevolmente il Sommo Pontefice ___ e i suoi legittimi successori, come pure di dedicarmi a loro con tutte le forze, sacrificando, ove occorra, anche la vita per la loro difesa.  Assumo del pari questi impegni riguardo al Sacro Collegio dei Cardinali per la durata della Sede vacante.  Prometto inoltre al Capitano Comandante e agli altri miei Superiori rispetto, fedeltà e ubbidienza.  Lo giuro.  Che Iddio e i nostri Santi Patroni mi assistano.  Io, ___, giuro di osservare fedelmente, lealmente e onorevolmente tutto ciò che in questo momento mi è stato letto.  Che Dio e i suoi santi patroni mi assistano.”

“Je jure de servir avec fidélité, loyauté et honneur le Souverain Pontife ___ et ses légitimes successeurs, ainsi que de me consacrer à eux de toutes mes forces, offrant, si cela est nécessaire, ma vie pour leur défense.  J’assume également ces engagements à l’égard du Sacré Collège des cardinaux pendant la vacance du Siège apostolique.  Je promets en outre au commandant et aux autres supérieurs respect, fidélité et obéissance.  Je jure d'observer tout ce que l'honneur exige de mon état.  Moi, ___, je jure d'observer loyalement et de bonne foi tout ce qui vient de m'être lu.  Aussi vrai que Dieu et nos Saints Patrons m’assistant.”

“I swear I will faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff ___ and his legitimate successors, and also dedicate myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing if necessary also my life to defend them.  I assume this same commitment with regard to the Sacred College of Cardinal whenever the see is vacant.  Furthermore I promise to the Commanding Captain and my other superiors, respect, fidelity and obedience. This I swear!  May God and our Holy Patrons assist me!  I, ___, swear diligently and faithfully to abide by all that has just been read out to me, so grant me God and so help me his Saints.”

The Vatican is always on the lookout for a few good men.  If you’re Catholic, single, Swiss by citizenship, have completed your Swiss military training, can obtain certificates of good conduct, have a secondary school diploma and/or a professional degree, are between the ages of 19 and 30, and are at least 5 feet, 8½ inches tall – you qualify for the Swiss Guard.

On May 6 of every year (the anniversary of the Sack of Rome), new Guards are sworn in at the San Damaso Courtyard in the Vatican with the above oath.  Serving in the Guard is considered to be “the best of the best,” due to their place in history – they’ve served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards and palace guards throughout Europe, but are best known for their function of protecting the Pope.  Switzerland had to pass an “exemption law” for the Guard, since its 1874 constitution forbids the recruitment of Swiss men by other nations.  Volunteering for another country’s army was outlawed in 1927.

So, what is it about the Guard besides the uniform?  (And it is quite the uniform: a uniquely-tailored blue, red, orange and yellow body suit with a distinctive Renaissance appearance; a beret, boot covers, crested helmet and high collar complete the outfit.  On special occasions, the Guard also wear a halberd.)  There’s the sword, and the honor of serving the Pope, of course, but it’s probably the distinction of being one of the few, the proud – the Swiss Guard.

These are guys like any other, of course, but I wonder if there is also uniform underwear, like the standard-issue boxers they have in the American Army.  (Yuck.  And there are boxers with the pontifical guard colors on them, as pictured below, but I’ll bet these are probably for commercial sale, not for official use.)  If there are, are they the same as the uniform with the slashed look in multiple colors?  Or are these guys at least allowed to bring in their own briefs or trunks, so they feel more relaxed? 

Who knows?  Still, it must be cool to be seen in full duty uniform guarding the Vatican.  And when all of your expenses are paid by the state, who can complain?

I certainly wouldn’t, because I am a sucker for a man in uniform.  I’ve never dated a Swiss Guard (and given the Catholicism requirement, I’m sure the vast majority of them don’t date guys), but I still wonder … how easy is it to get one of the Guards out of uniform?  From the pictures I’ve seen, they’re not as stodgy as British guards, so I suppose anything is possible.