New Swiss Guard building includes a wing for “women on duty.”
Vatican City – (Thursday 16/09/2021 17:55, Gaudium Press) – The current Swiss Guard building, dating back to the 19th century, will be entirely renovated according to a project begun as early as last year.
New Building
The new building should be ready by 2027, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the sacking of Rome. On the occasion, more than a hundred guards died defending the Pope.
The future Pontifical Guard Barracks will be built according to an ecologically sustainable model, increasing individual spaces and allowing soldiers greater privacy than the current accommodations.
Will women be able to enlist?
These do not seem to be the only new features of the renovation. Indeed, the project features a wing dedicated to women in service. “For us, it was important from the very beginning that the Barracks provide a space for women in service,” said Jean-Pierre Roth, head of the Foundation involved in the construction of the new building.
The president of the Swiss Guard Foundation, Ruth Metzler-Arnold, welcomed the idea: “Once women are admitted, the Guard’s recruitment potential will also increase.”
Requirements
Over the past few years, the Vatican has encountered difficulty in recruiting soldiers. To join the Swiss Guard one must meet several requirements: be a Catholic, male, of Swiss nationality, have completed military service, and have an impeccable reputation.
The establishing of the Swiss Guard dates back to 1506, when Pope Julius II received the first 150 soldiers from the Ur canton. (FM)
With information from LeMatin.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
