Pope Leo’s address to the Pontifical Swiss Guards and their families
Clementine Hall – Thursday, 7 May 2026
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Dear brothers and sisters,
Willkommen and bienvenus!
I would like to greet the Commander and Officials, as well as all the members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. I am also pleased to welcome the families who have come to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
I would also like to thank the civil and military authorities in attendance.
Today is an opportunity for me to express my gratitude to the Swiss nation, from which these young recruits hail.
They have joyfully placed themselves at the service of the Pope.
They are a source of pride for Switzerland and bring with them the cultural and spiritual values in which they were raised.
This traditional gathering provides a fitting opportunity for me to express my sincere gratitude for the Guards’ service. It is a humble and discreet service that you perform day and night.
I would also like to thank your families for accompanying you on your journey here.
The joys and challenges you experience together, and the friendships you have forged, shape your spirit, giving you a sense of honor and duty.
This is expressed through your gift of life, given in service and protection of the Successor of Peter.
Dear Guards,
You carry out your mission at the gates of Vatican City State, as well as inside the Apostolic Palace and the major basilicas. These historic and sacred sites invite you to reflect and pray. While you stand at your post, you can admire the beauty that surrounds you.
This beauty comes from God and leads to Him, the Father of Beauty and Goodness. Although your mission is primarily military, it is nevertheless inseparable from the vocation to holiness of every baptized person.
I am therefore convinced that your decision to dedicate a few years to serving the Pope and the Holy See is part of your personal faith journey.
Rather than being soldiers, you are servants who, in the image of Christ, go out to help those in need: not only members of the Curia or officials visiting the Vatican, but also pilgrims and tourists.
Always remember the words of Jesus: ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Mt 25:40).
The night shifts, spent in silence and solitude, follow the bustle of the daytime shifts, when you have to pay attention to everyone and everything.
These shifts can provide an opportunity to nourish your soul through reading and meditation, offering you the chance to encounter your inner Master and recite the prayer of Saint Nicholas of Flüe: ‘My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from You.
My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to You.
Detach me from myself, my Lord and my God, so that I may give my all to You”.
Dear Guards,
Together, you form the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps.
You are a strong group, united by your qualities, your diversity and your individual characters.
Life in the barracks provides a privileged opportunity to develop the human virtues of service to others, generosity and humility.
Through the fraternal solidarity that characterizes your relationships, you will foster an atmosphere of harmony and joy within the Guard that will extend to everyone you encounter.
I encourage you to persevere on this demanding yet fruitful path.
I would like to express my gratitude once again to the entire Guard for their diligent and generous service, which I witness every day.
I entrust all of you present here today to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, St. Martin of Tours, St. Sebastian and St. Nicholas of Flüe, your patron saints.
I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to you all.
Thank you! Vielen Dank and merci beaucoup!
We will now greet each family and itwill be a pleasure to meet you all and thank you in person.
Best wishes.
