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

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

Willkommen and bienvenus!

I greet the Commander, the Officials, all the members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, and I am pleased to welcome the families who have come for the swearing-in ceremony. I also gratefully greet the civil and military authorities present.

This day is an opportunity to express my gratitude to the Swiss nation, from which these young recruits come, who joyfully place themselves at the Pope’s service. They are a source of pride for your country and bring to the Vatican the cultural and spiritual values in which they have been raised.

This traditional gathering is a fitting moment to express my full gratitude for the service of the Guards, the humble and discreet service which you perform day and night. I also wish to thank your families, who have accompanied the steps that have led them here. Now, the joys and challenges you experience together, as well as the strength of the friendships forged among you, shape your spirit with a sense of honour and duty that is expressed through the gift of your lives in the service and protection of the Successor of Peter.

Dear Guards, you carry out your mission at the gates of Vatican City State, as well as inside the Apostolic Palace or the Major Basilicas. These places, rich in history and faith, invite you to reflection and prayer. Indeed, whilst you stand at your post, you can marvel at the beauty that meets your eyes. This beauty comes from God and leads to God, the Father of Beauty and Goodness. Your mission, which is first and foremost a military one, is nevertheless inseparable from the vocation to holiness of every baptized person.

I am therefore convinced that your decision to dedicate some years of your life to the service of the Pope and the Holy See forms part of a personal journey of faith. More than soldiers, you are servants who, in the image of Christ, go out to meet those in need of your help: not only members of the Curia or officials visiting the Vatican, but also pilgrims and tourists. Always remember these words of Jesus: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).

The night shifts, in silence and solitude, follow the bustle of the daytime shifts, during which you must pay attention to everyone and everything. They can be opportune moments for you to nourish your soul with readings and meditations that offer you the opportunity to encounter the inner Master, and to offer this prayer of Saint Nicholas of Flüe: “My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from You. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to You. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to You”.

Dear Guards, together you form a Corps, that of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, strong in your qualities, your diversities and your individual characters. Life in the barracks is a privileged place for developing the human virtues of service to others, generosity and humility. Through the fraternal solidarity that characterizes your relationships, you will build a climate of harmony and joy within the Guard, which will be reflected in all those you meet. I encourage you to persevere on this path, which is often demanding but bears fruit.

I renew my gratitude to the entire Guard for the diligent and generous service of which I am a witness every day. I entrust all of you here present to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, Saint Martin of Tours, Saint Sebastian and Saint Nicholas of Flüe, your patron saints, and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to you.

Thank you! Vielen Dank and merci beaucoup!

The Holy Father imparts the Blessing, and adds:

Good. Best wishes! We will now greet each family and it will be a pleasure to meet you all and thank you in person. Best wishes.

Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 7 May 2026