"Leo sat in a throne in a courtyard of the Apostolic Palace as the new guards in their distinctive yellow, blue and red "gala uniforms" held their right arm up in a three-fingered salute and pledged "with all my strength, sacrifice and if necessary my life" to defend him and serve him. The Vatican didn't say why Leo decided to preside over the ceremony, though he had attended it in years past as a cardinal."
"The corps was founded in 1506 by Pope Giulio II and is considered by historians to be the world's oldest standing army. Tradition has it that he was so impressed by the bravery of Swiss mercenaries that he asked them to defend the Vatican. Ever since, for more than 500 years, Switzerland has been supplying soldiers to the Vatican to staff an army of around 135 men."
Pope Leo XIV presided over the swearing-in ceremony of 27 new Swiss Guards in a courtyard of the Apostolic Palace. The recruits wore yellow, blue and red gala uniforms, raised a three-fingered salute and pledged to defend and serve the pope, saying 'with all my strength, sacrifice and if necessary my life.' The commander said it was the first papal presiding at the ceremony since 1968. The corps plans new fundraising and showcased updated formal uniforms amid efforts to renovate cramped barracks and address difficulties recruiting enough men for the roughly 135-member force.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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