Posted on 05/08/2006 1:38:08 AM PDT by catholicfreeper
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict thanked the Swiss Guards for 500 years of service as papal protectors on Saturday, telling the world's smallest army to carry on with courage and loyalty and be "the true friends of God."
The Pope led a mass in St Peter's Basilica to remember the 147 guards who died in the May 6, 1527 sacking of Rome, the army's biggest loss since its creation five centuries ago. The surviving members saved the life of Pope Clement VII.
The mass was a highlight of months of celebrations honoring the elite corps which protects the Pope and guards the Vatican.
"To be a Swiss Guard means to adhere without reservation to Christ and the Church and be ready to offer your life for this," the Pope said as guards in crimson-plumed helmets, shiny armor and gold and blue-striped uniforms stood ramrod stiff.
"I express a deserved and deeply felt thank you and I call on you to carry on with courage and loyalty," he said in his homily. "Be above all men of prayer, so that the divine wisdom make you the true friends of God."
Later, 33 new recruits raised three fingers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, and shouted their allegiance to the pontiff in German, French and Italian at a swearing-in ceremony before some 20,000 people.
The recruits, all Catholics between 19 and 30 years of age who come from the Swiss army, have to be at least 174 cm (5 feet 9 inches) tall to apply for the job.
The Swiss Guard was founded on January 22, 1506, when 150 Swiss mercenaries marched to Rome to serve under Pope Julius II, known as "the warrior Pope."
On Thursday, a small contingent of veterans converged on the Vatican after retracing that march with a 27-day trek from Switzerland.
Today, the guard numbers 110 men. Many of its members still carry the unit's trademark weapon -- a halberd, which is a combination of spear and battle axe. More practically, some of them also have automatic weapons.
As well as the sacking of Rome, the guards were also involved in minor skirmishes in 1870 when the Church lost the Papal States in the Unification of Italy.
Battlefields aside, the darkest night in the guard's history was a mysterious murder and suicide in 1998, when young guard Cedric Tornay shot dead commandant Alois Estermann and his wife and then shot himself, according to a Vatican account.
The Vatican said Tornay had acted in a "fit of insanity" because he was passed over for promotion but Tornay's family has contested some aspects of that version of events.
Well, to modern eyes those dress uniforms are a bit garish. However, the Swiss Guard is an elite military force, trained in all sorts of weaponry and such. It wouldn't pay to mess with one of them, even if he was wearing the funny uniform.
For some history of the Swiss Guard see:http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/swissguard/storia_en.htm
What you see are the uniforms designed by Michaelangelo IIRC.
In an era when there were no standing armies, much less well trained ones, they were the best. Available at high cost. As one king said, "No money, no Swiss"
They were not designed by Michelangelo. Guard commander Jules Repond designed them in 1914.
The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Netherlands. It was founded on 10 December 1665 by the unofficial leader of the republic Johan de Witt and Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.
It is claimed that the Netherlands Marine Corps is the second oldest military unit in the world that is still in existence (after the Vatican's Swiss Guard).
The Royal Netherlands Marine Corps motto still is Qua Patet Orbis (Wherever the World Extends).
The cooperation between the RNLMC and the British Royal Marines within NATO is seen as the prime example of what can be achieved in military integration.
The RNLMC and Royal Marines have a long history of cooperation. During combined actions by the British and Dutch navies during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713), amphibious operations were carried out, the most notable being the Siege of Gibraltar in 1704. During this action, a successful attack was carried out against the fortress of Gibraltar by an 1800-strong brigade of Dutch and British Marines under the command of Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt. Both corps share this battle honour.
In my defense I present:
"It is commonly thought that the uniform was designed by Michelangelo, but it would seem rather that he had nothing to do with it."
from the same Vatican site as before.
"To Dare & To Conquer",
"Special Operations and the Destiny of Nations from Achilles to Al Qaeda"
Sounds French. (Kinda looks French, too)
A while back these guys had become military men in name only who were more ceremonial than anything else, but their combat training became much more serious and extensive after that Turk nearly killed John Paul II.
Despite their somewhat gayish costumes I wouldn't mess with them. They are issued and train with FN P90 submachineguns and Sig Sauer handguns.
A long time ago I had the pleasure of see an extensive collection of Samurai gear. One helmet had bunny ears. Large, Bugs Bunny-type ears. I marveled at what an opponent must've been thinking as the final blow was delivered . . . .
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