Vatican investigates Swiss Guard’s alleged antisemitic gesture toward Jewish delegates during event honoring Catholic-Jewish ties, amid Pope’s anti-hate vow.
Newsroom (11/11/2025 Gaudium Press )The Vatican announced Monday it has launched an investigation into an alleged antisemitic incident involving a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, who is accused of making a contemptuous spitting gesture toward two Jewish women during a papal audience dedicated to fostering interfaith relations.
The episode unfolded on Oct. 29 at a side entrance to St. Peter’s Square, as an international delegation of Jewish leaders and scholars gathered for a special audience marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the landmark 1965 Vatican II declaration that revolutionized the Catholic Church’s approach to Judaism and other non-Christian religions by rejecting collective Jewish blame for Jesus’ death and condemning antisemitism.
Michal Govrin, an Israeli writer and theater director who was part of the delegation, described the encounter in a written statement to The Associated Press. She recounted walking with a colleague through the entrance when a Swiss Guard reportedly hissed the French phrase “Les Juifs” — meaning “the Jews” — in a derogatory tone as they passed.
“We were totally shocked,” Govrin said. “Such an incident of Jewish hatred inside the Vatican?! In contrast to the Pope’s important words strongly condemning anti-Semitism and calling for collaboration and peace?!”
According to Govrin, her colleague confronted the guard, saying, “You said ‘Les Juifs.'” The guard allegedly denied it, retorting, “No, I didn’t,” and accusing the women of lying. He then emitted “a contemptuous sound of spitting toward us,” Govrin added, leaving the pair stunned amid the otherwise celebratory atmosphere.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed in a statement that the Pontifical Swiss Guard had received a formal report about the incident at one of the entrances to Vatican City State. He described it as involving “elements interpreted as having antisemitic connotations.”
Bruni provided a preliminary account from the Guard’s perspective, suggesting the altercation stemmed from a “disagreement” over a request to take photographs at a guard post. He emphasized that an internal inquiry was underway to ascertain the full details, but declined to elaborate further pending its conclusion.
The alleged misconduct occurred on the same day Pope Leo XIV addressed the assembled crowd, including the Jewish delegation, with a fervent reaffirmation of Catholic-Jewish bonds. “The Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights it,” the pontiff declared, his words met with prolonged applause from attendees in St. Peter’s Square.
The timing of the incident has amplified its sensitivity, coming during an event explicitly aimed at commemorating progress in interfaith dialogue. Nostra Aetate, issued during the Second Vatican Council under Pope Paul VI, represented a pivotal shift in Church doctrine, paving the way for decades of reconciliation efforts, including papal visits to synagogues and joint condemnations of Holocaust denial.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, the world’s oldest continuously serving military unit founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, is renowned for its colorful Renaissance-era uniforms and its solemn duty to protect the pope and Vatican City. Comprising about 135 recruits from Switzerland, the corps undergoes rigorous training and swears an oath of loyalty to the pontiff.
In his statement, Bruni underscored the Guard’s commitment to its ethos: “The Pontifical Swiss Guard, in keeping with its centuries-old tradition of service, reaffirms its ongoing commitment to ensuring that its mission is always carried out with respect for the dignity of each person and the fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination.”
Govrin, whose work often explores themes of Jewish identity and memory, expressed hope that the investigation would lead to accountability. “This is not just about us,” she told the AP. “It’s about upholding the values the Vatican itself promotes.”
The inquiry comes at a time of heightened global concerns over rising antisemitism, fueled by conflicts in the Middle East and political polarization. Vatican officials have repeatedly positioned the Church as a bulwark against such hatred, with Pope Leo XIV building on the legacies of his predecessors, including John Paul II’s historic apology for the Church’s historical treatment of Jews.
As the investigation proceeds, Jewish organizations involved in the delegation have called for transparency and swift resolution. No timeline for the probe’s completion has been announced, but Bruni indicated it would be handled internally by the Swiss Guard’s command structure.
This incident, if substantiated, could cast a shadow over the Vatican’s interfaith initiatives, though experts note it appears isolated amid broader positive developments in Catholic-Jewish relations.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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