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Pontifical Swiss Guard
Exhibit in the Higgins Armory Museum, 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. The museum permitted photography without any restriction, both in writing and when I asked verbally.
Swiss guard swearing-in ceremony at the Paul VI Audience Hall.
Swiss guards in the Vatican City, 2010.
Rome, Vatican, soldier of the Swiss Guard.
Swiss guard at the entrance to the Apostolic Palace. The first Swiss guards arrived in Rome in 1505. Since then, they have constituted the Pope's army. They are required to attend mass every day and to sleep in their barracks in the Vatican.
A platoon marches in exercise uniform with rifles. Rome: The Papal Swiss Guard in Vatican City, 1938.
Kneeling salute of the guard in the Sala Clementina, one of the audience halls on the 2nd floor of the Apostolic Palace, December 1937.

Pontifical Swiss Guard

Rome, Italy

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is a group known for standing guard at the entrances to Vatican City. Their main job is to provide security and protect the Pope. They can easily be recognized by their distinctive uniforms, which are very colorful and look much like the clothing worn by soldiers during the Renaissance era.

A Historic and Unique Army

The Pontifical Swiss Guard holds the title of being the smallest and oldest standing army in the world. This tradition began in 1506 when Pope Julius II officially founded the Guard. However, the use of Swiss soldiers by the popes dates back even further. During the 1400s, Swiss mercenaries were often brought to Rome to serve as bodyguards for the pope and to provide extra security.

Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Guard
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