Pope Leo XIV surprisingly takes part in the swearing-in ceremony of the Swiss Guards in Rome on Saturday. (archive picture)
Keystone
Pope Leo XIV will unexpectedly take part in the swearing-in ceremony of 27 Swiss Guards in Rome on Saturday. This was confirmed to the Keystone-SDA news agency by the press spokesman for the Swiss Guard.
The last time the head of the Roman Catholic Church was present at the swearing-in ceremony of the Swiss Guard was in 1968.
On Saturday afternoon, 27 new Swiss Guards will be sworn in at the Vatican in Rome. Due to the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the swearing-in ceremony originally planned for May 6, 2025 has been postponed. When taking the oath, the guardsmen promise to protect and defend the reigning Pope and all his legitimate successors, even at the risk of their own lives.