Good morning, thank you, it is a pleasure to be here with you today. I will say a couple of words, and then it will be a pleasure to greet you all, all the families, this morning.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Peace be with you!
 

Commander,
Reverend Chaplain,
Dear Swiss Guards,
Dear relatives and friends!

I greet you all and welcome you to the Apostolic Palace. Ever since the first steps of my Pontificate, dear Swiss Guards, I have been able to count on your faithful service, which you carry out with great selflessness and zeal. I take this opportunity of the traditional swearing-in ceremony to express my heartfelt thanks for your dedication and your commitment. The Successor of Peter can fulfil his mission in the service of the Church and the world in the certainty that you watch over his safety.

Dear friends, you come from various regions of Switzerland, with their cultures, languages and traditions. You are, however, called to form a united body, to create strong and healthy bonds of friendship between you. Alone, you would not be able to realize your potential fully. You need one another in order to learn, to progress, to serve in a world increasingly tempted by division and isolation. Benevolence, honesty, solidarity, and mutual respect constitute the pillars on which a harmonious life can be built. Each person can be, for the other, a model with his words and conduct, with his charity and faith (cf. 1Tm 4:12). And you can be a message of unity for all the Roman Curia.

The city of Rome, with its treasures and riches, offers you an unforgettable journey through history, not only of the arts, but also and above all of the Christian faith, starting from the first witnesses who followed Christ, sometimes even to the point of sacrificing their lives. Make the most of it to nurture the inner life, amid the frenzy of our society, to deepen your relationship with the Lord, as Saint Augustine recommended, saying: “Do not go outside, come back into yourself. It is in the inner self that Truth dwells” (De Vera Religione, 39).

As you take your oath today, dear young recruits, you embark on a new stage in your lives. I encourage you to live this mission with conviction, putting yourselves in the school of the humble and obedient Christ.

Many of you will return to your homeland after providing good and loyal service to the Holy See. A path full of possibilities will then open up. Some of you will continue your studies, others will enter the world of work. Perhaps some will have matured a vocation to the priesthood. Some, perhaps, will set out to discover the world before making definitive choices. Whatever your decision, remember that your experience in the Roman Curia will help you to face changes with confidence and with the universal outlook proper to the Christian.

The challenges that your generation has to face are numerous. They are environmental issues, economic changes, social tensions, the digital revolution, artificial intelligence and other complex realities that require discernment and a sense of responsibility. Your stay in Rome will help you to develop your maturity also in these aspects of social life.

Above all, I urge you to remain faithful to the Gospel and to the fundamental values of your Christian faith, which make you baptized people convinced of your choices. In this Holy Year, may you be, with your simple witness, missionaries of hope for the people you meet. May the flame of hope illuminate your life and give you the courage to dare and to contribute together to the civilization of love.

Dear friends, be assured of my prayers for you. Entrusting you to the maternal care of the Virgin Mary and the protection of your Patron Saints Martin and Sebastian, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to you, and to your families and friends who are participating in your celebration.

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Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 3 October 2025