The world’s oldest army, Swiss guards, have unveiled a new uniform, although their prestigious Renaissance-era dress untouched. The additional attire, designed for formal, non-conventional events such as diplomatic reception or official dinner beyond the watican walls, was shown by Commander Colonel Christoff Graf.
He presented a new look in the army barrack before the annual swearing -in ceremony for 27 new recruits on this Saturday. The uniform is a black wool suit in itself, with two rows of buttons, a specific yellow and white belt and a Mao-style collar. Colonel Graf reported that the design, in fact, is a loyal entertainment of the centuries -old suits worn by Swiss guard officers, which was phased out in 1976.
Swiss guards tried an update a decade ago, did not like it, and commissioned a more loyal version, which would receive its first official use in a gala reception on Friday on the eve of the swearing -in. Officials said an anonymous beneficiary paid a bill for uniform, worn only by senior ranks, costing around 2,000 euros ($ 2,300).
The oldest and smallest army in the world
The core, which historians considered the oldest permanent army in the world, were established in 1506 by the Pope Giulio II. The tradition is that he was so impressed by the bravery of Swiss fare people that he asked them to protect the Vatican. Ever since, over 500 years, Switzerland has been supplying soldiers to the Vatican.
Typically, the swearing -in ceremony is held on or near 6 May, which takes place in 1527 to celebrate the day when 147 guards died while protecting the Pope Clement VII during the Rome’s sack.
This year’s ceremony was postponed after death in April. Pope Francis And this conclave He elected Pope Leo XIV.
The new uniform is one of the many organizations that wear guards. The most famous is “Gala uniform”, despite the popular legend, was not designed by Michael Angelo. Instead, it was designed by Commander Jules Repondend in the early 1900s and is based on the colors of the Medi family, according to the core’s website.
Vatican visitors will also see the guard’s main entrance to the city’s main entrance with a beret in the naval uniform.
A new barrack that women may have or not,
This year’s ceremony comes when plans are planned to renew the barracks of aging for the guard to better use the space and to increase the number of dormitory-style rooms, which in principle, can allow women recruitment to one day.
Currently there is no such plan, but the tight housing of the barrack has long been quoted as one of the reasons with which women cannot be admitted. The new architectural plans call for a flexible configuration of buildings, which could one day to approve, allowed for a female section, Jean-Pierre Roth, president of the Foundation in 2016, said that to raise funds for renewal of barracks.
“This is not our decision,” he insisted. “The only thing we have done is that when everything is ready, if we want a special section for women, it is possible, no problem.”
The renovation process is complex Vatican City A UNESCO is a World Heritage Site, which means any renewal should be approved by technical experts of the United Nations body. The Vatican received the first green light for its architectural plans in 2023 and is expected to present the revised plans in the coming weeks, Roth said.
“We hope that the final decision would be as positive as before,” he said.
Former Swiss National Bank President Roth said that 48 million euros were so far raised in cash and financial vows, but after the first budget was ready, there was a significant increase in construction costs in Rome and a new funding appeal would be initiated in 2026.
Covid-19, due to a papal infection and other delays, the original target will be remembered to up to the new barrack and run by 2027, the 500th anniversary of the sack of Rome. Now, it is expected that construction can begin in 2027, Roth said.
The oldest and youngest Armya in the world is new barracks which may be or not, women are women