ITALY: VATICAN CITY: SWISS GUARD RECRUITS PLEDGE LOYALTY TO THE POPE.

Record ID: 645852

  • Title: ITALY: VATICAN CITY: SWISS GUARD RECRUITS PLEDGE LOYALTY TO THE POPE.
  • Date: 6th May 1963
  • Summary: 1. SV PAPAL GUARDS PARADE, FLAG CARRIED FORWARD. 0.08 2. SV ONLOOKERS. 0.10 3. SV GUARD TAKES OATH. 0.20 4. SV GUARD MARCHES AWAY. 0.25 5. CU GUARD. 0.27 6. SV GUARD TAKES OATH, MARCHES AWAY. 0.41 7. SV GUARD LEAVES RANKS, AND TAKES OATH. 0.53 8. SCU ONLOOKERS. 0.55 9. SV GUARD TAKES OATH. 1.02 10. SV DIGNITARIES LOOK ON. 1.06 11. LV GUARD TAKES OATH. 1.11 12. SCU ONLOOKERS. 1.14 13. GV CEREMONY IN PROGRESS. 1.19 14. SV GUARDS MARCH AWAY. (2 SHOTS). 1.34 Initials IT/V/WH/LW Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st May 1963 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VATICAN CITY, ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA51FUFGCPD5543DKJFMX2Z8OMK
  • Story Text: ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND MOST COLOURFUL BODYGUARDS, THE PAPAL SWISS GUARDS, TODAY (MONDAY) ENROLLED ONE OFFICER AND 31 RECRUITS IN A CEREMONY AT VATICAN CITY, ROME.WITH THE SUN GLINTING ON THEIR STEEL BREASTPLATES AND PEAKED HELMETS, THE MEN PARADED IN 16TH CENTURY UNIFORM OF BLUE, RED AND YELLOW, ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY MICHELANGELO.

    DRAWN, ACCORDING TO TRADITION, FROM SWISS CITIZENS, THE RECRUITS EACH TOOK AN OATH ON THE VATICAN FLAG, SWEARING TO DEFEND THE POPE - A DUTY UPHELD BY THE SWISS GUARD SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1505.IN 1527, THE ENTIRE GUARD OF 143 MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENDING POPE CLEMENT VII WHEN HE FLED FROM ROME DURING AN AUSTRIAN INVASION.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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