Posted on 02/24/2015 8:27:23 PM PST by Perdogg
The commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard says the group of soldiers charged with protecting the Pope is on high alert and ready to act if any threat from ISIS materializes.
“We are ready to intervene. Our job is security. and as gendarmes we are well organized. We are ready if anything happens,” said Cristoph Graf.
At age 54, Graf is married with two children. Yet he and the other members of the Swiss Guard are willing to lay down their lives to protect the Holy Father.
In an interview with the Italian daily Il Giornale, published on Feb. 18, Graf responded to threats from ISIS militants, who stated in a recent video, “We will conquer Rome.”
(Excerpt) Read more at patheos.com ...
I wish them God’s protection as they kill those godless bastards. Make you ashamed of America.
One theory - when Crusaders came home - and were rejected by families as being too rough - they moved to Switzerland...
They better not threaten the pope. He might start another Crusades.
Make no mistake. Those guys are tough.
Their ancestors in France fought to the death to protect the King. I think they'd be willing to suffer a massacre again if it meant saving the Pope.
“He also stressed the importance of information to prevent potential attacks. He referenced the Jan. 7 massacre at the headquarters of a French newspaper that had published offensive images of the Prophet Mohammed.
“What happened in Paris could happen here and it cannot be prevented without intelligence based on accurate information,” he said.
Reflecting on his own appointment as commander of the Swiss Guard, Graf said, “The Pope asked me if I was willing and I could have said ‘no.’ But I think this is a mission and I answered ‘yes,’ because I see this as the Lord’s work. I know there are several crosses to carry but I trust in God’s help.”
Asked if the Holy Father is afraid, he replied, “I don’t think the Pope is afraid of anything…Anything can happen but you can see that he is not afraid.”
Commenting on the future of the Swiss Guard, the commander said that there may be difficulty in recruiting new members, but that it will ultimately “depend on the situation of the Church and the faith, and on the issue of the low birth rate.”
The Swiss Guard was established by Pope Julius II in 1506.
Its first real test came on May 6, 1527, during the sack of Rome, when 147 Swiss Guards died fighting against the troops of Emperor Carlos V to allow Pope Clement to escape. The few dozen guards that survived escorted the Holy Father to safety.
In memory of that day, new Swiss Guards are sworn in on May 6 each year, taking an oath to defend the Roman Pontiff with their very lives.”
They should be as brave as anyone would want, come the day, but they arent specialists in anti-terrorist response. As their leader says, they are really gendarmes, that is, policemen.
If anything does go down in the Vatican the Italian Carabinieri will be in there in an instant with their anti-terrorist unit.
Don’t be fooled by the San Francisco circus suits. These guys are serious as a heart attack. Swords and Pole Axes + 9mm pistols and submachine guns.
http://www.guns.com/2014/04/13/guns-swiss-guard/
Earth To The Swiss Guard:If You Have Some Extra Time,We Could Use You In Defending Us Against Obongo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually the Swiss Guard receive extensive training in counter terrorism and VIP protection. They are a crack military security service and are well armed. The main problem is that there are not enough of them.
From what little I’ve heard, the Swiss Guard are first-class troops - well trained and ready for pretty much anything.
Despite the costumes, to be selected you have to be a tough MF with an excellent military record, plenty of real-world training, and nerves of ice.
They’re NOT pantomime ponies.
Switzerland is part of the world where damn near everyone over 17 knows how to accurately and effectively use a firearm. It is part of why the Nazi War Machine never even tried to invade. I think they are gonna be ok.
You are correct.
They won’t get any help from our Catholic-hating leader
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