Vatican delays Swiss Guards’ barracks project to 2027 as rising construction costs and funding shortfalls force redesigns and new fundraising drives.
Newsroom (24/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) A major Vatican project to redevelop the barracks of the Pontifical Swiss Guards—the elite corps charged with protecting the pope—has been postponed until 2027 due to a growing funding gap and escalating construction costs, according to the foundation responsible for the effort.
The Barracks Foundation, established in Switzerland in 2016 to raise funds and manage the redevelopment, announced on February 18 that construction, which had been expected to start this year, will be delayed by at least two years. Despite securing almost 50 million euros by late 2024, the projected budget has since ballooned by an additional 27 million euros, driven by higher material costs, design changes, and unanticipated technical complications.
Building permits were granted in January after the Vatican approved the project, which was originally scheduled to begin immediately following the close of the 2025 Jubilee Year. The foundation now anticipates that construction will start in 2027, with completion set for the end of 2029.
Spiraling Building Costs and Design Revisions
Since 2019, construction costs in Rome have increased by 33.5 percent, pushing the Barracks Foundation to seek an additional 12 million euros in immediate funding and another 5 million euros to cover price increases expected throughout the project timeline.
Adding to the financial strain are changes in the architectural plans. The initial proposal called for a full demolition and reconstruction of the current barracks near Porta Sant’Anna, but revised plans now require preservation of the existing façade to maintain continuity with Vatican architecture. This new approach demands more complex engineering and has raised both costs and timelines.
Further expenses have arisen from the need to reinforce building foundations, upgrade sewage systems, and restore the nearby Passetto di Borgo—the historic elevated walkway connecting Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican. None of these were part of the original construction blueprint.
Living Conditions and Modernization Goals
The new barracks aim to modernize the living conditions of the Swiss Guards, the smallest standing army in the world. The current accommodations, built in the late 19th century, have seen little renovation since their completion and are plagued by poor insulation, crumbling plaster, and excessive maintenance costs.
Currently, lower-ranking guards live in shared dormitories housing up to ten men, while officers enjoy private residences. The updated plans—though recently modified—will still represent a major improvement, shifting to double rooms for most unmarried guards and upgraded facilities for married officers and their families, who today must live outside Vatican City.
Renewed Fundraising Campaign
The Barracks Foundation initially focused its fundraising efforts within Switzerland, receiving support from the Swiss federal government, cantonal authorities, Catholic institutions, and private donors. Facing the financial shortfall, the foundation is expanding its outreach to Germany, France, Italy, and the United States, hoping to close the funding gap by the end of this year.
The renewed campaign comes at a time when the Vatican faces broader financial challenges. Though the Holy See reported a modest €1.6 million budget surplus in its most recent report—its first after years of deficits—experts note that this surplus is largely attributable to one-time investment gains and extraordinary donations. The structural budget still shows a recurring shortfall of over 33 million euros, while the Vatican’s long-troubled pension fund deficit, estimated at €1.4 billion in 2014, is believed to have worsened.
A Historic Corps Adapting to Modern Pressures
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, established in 1505 under Pope Julius II, continues to symbolize both Swiss fidelity and papal tradition. The corps, made up entirely of Swiss citizens—whether by birth or naturalization—currently numbers 135 members following Pope Francis’s 2018 expansion order. Recruits must be unmarried, Catholic men between 19 and 30 years old, have completed Swiss military training, and stand at least 5 feet 8 inches tall.
The modernization of their barracks has been seen as a long-overdue investment in the guards’ welfare and a necessary adaptation for the Vatican’s future. Yet, with rising costs and tightening budgets, the project reflects the broader struggle facing one of the world’s most historic institutions: balancing continuity and tradition with the financial realities of modern construction and global fundraising.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from The Pillar
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