World's Smallest Army to Welcome 34 New Members

After months of training and preparation, 34 young men will stand in front of their friends and family and swear their allegiance to Pope Francis and his successors.
Every May 6, the San Damaso Courtyard in the Vatican fills with the colorful uniforms of the Swiss Guard for the swearing-in ceremony. Each guard says the oath in their native language: French, German or Italian.
This day marks the anniversary of the sack of Rome, where 189 guards defended Pope Clement VII against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's army in 1527.

[@SouthTC2]

Is nobody concerned that the Popes army just grew 25%? (Edit: The joke seems to be flying real high over ppl, I was just making a joke about how when a nation increases it's army by a large percentage it's usually scary, but they only had like 138 people in this army, lot of cool dudes though, God bless the Vatican.)

[@loafoffloof3420]

not until a Pope declares the reannexation of the lands of the Papal States

[@enkryptron]

concerned about an army that wears ruffs? nah

[@az-6262]

​@@loafoffloof3420 rome reborn

[@CatholicGunGuy]

@@enkryptronI dunno man, they’re all highly trained

[@mamingakuri2436]

@@Qwerty0791you missed the joke

[@KingOfYamimakai]

Just to let people know the Swiss guards don't dress like that all the time. They only dress in traditional attire while on guard duty in the Vatican City. They dress is suit and other attire outside of the Vatican City when the Pope is visiting other nations plus they ditch the halberd for guns when real threat has being discovered.

[@Teufer2]

Ironically the Swiss Guard has only been used once in a large scale engagement. And at that time. They made quite the well use of their halberds.

[@KingOfYamimakai]

@@Teufer2 I think I now what your talking about. The attack that the Holy Roman Empire launch to loot the Vatican.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@vladimirpinera1137]

1:17 sabaton has prepared me to recite along whenever this is mentioned anywhere.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@GetMeMoreGuns]

FOR THE GRACE FOR THE MIGHT OF THE LORD

[@swordsnspearguy5945]

In the heart of holy see In the home of Christianity The seat of power is in danger

[@MrToasterWaffles]

HAHA 🤣

[@threestrikesmarxman9095]

There's a foe of a thousand swords They've been abandoned by their lords Their fall from grace will pave their path to damnation

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@leonhardthomasius8872]

Then the 189 In the service of heaven They’re protecting the holy line It was 1527 Gave their lives on the steps to heaven THY WILL BE DONE

[@gerogegerog5926]

@@leonhardthomasius8872for the grace for the might of the lord For the home of the holy

[@daniel_sc1024]

The Vatican armed forces, consisting of the Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, actually outnumber the defense forces of Antigua and Barbados.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@Qwerty0791]

Do either has enough fuel to reach the other? It’s like 10 square miles vs 10 square miles.

[@TheGrenadier97]

A small army with great History and important duties. Perhaps the only to keep a full baroque aesthetics for ceremonial purposes.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@jakeleo4518]

2:54 ho ma god here they started again. Can they just not keep their grubby hands off historically mens things? you know what this is why I don't even feel mad for "women" going into their restrooms, taking all their benefits in work places, their govt subsidized wOmEnt OnLy scholarships 🤡🤡 and job events. You reap what you sow

[@samirmanna2857]

Traditional Army of The Vatican City a fealing of historyical emotion 🎄💐🌹🙏😮

[@Andiskywalker8]

They are very updated. Do not judge by appearance. And do not underestimate the Swiss.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@anehjunior2305]

atleast they completed the basic training in swiss, well i don't think they train at all after enter patican since training field is non existence..

[@firehidranoi]

🔥

[@josefsmith3140]

Damn! Cant men have anything to ourselves anymore?

[@Rustedinmyshackleferd]

Nope men cant have shit thats why we cant even have a mans only gym but women can have a womens only gym. Cant even keep history truthful gotta insert your token black man here and there. The cultural diverse naritive is whats destroying european history and culture.

[@jakeleo4518]

exactly. 2:54 ho ma god here they started again. Can they just not keep their grubby hands off historically mens things? you know what this is why I don't even feel sory for "women" going into their restrooms, taking all their benefits in work places, their govt subsidized wOmEnt OnLy scholarships 🤡🤡 and job events. You reap what you sow

[@Qwerty0791]

Getting molested by Catholics? 🤣

[@gorg2079]

“So called” what did you mean by that?

[@bdinaz]

Damn, almost as big as Forces Canada now.

[@JelMain]

I think the Duke of Argyle's force is smaller.

[@airbornesoldier8104]

I thought Britain had the smallest army these days

[@KingOfKings27X6]

The Swiss Guards look like the Conquistadors from Spain 🇪🇸 back when they were adventurous and militant soldiers of the Spanish Empire in order to rule the New World

[@reuben8140]

Europa 🙌

[@insert_username77]

The Swiss guard forgot the 21st century update

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@nuster7816]

Yea. Some skinny jeans, baggy T-Shirt and a gay adidas bellybag

[@feudinggreeks3316]

@@nuster7816 LMAO

[@spikebonjour4890]

They wear suits when traveling internationally and have a concealed gun.

[@matty1094]

cute pfp!

[@nicbahtin4774]

didn't the swiss banned mercenary work in the 19th century ?

[@josefsmith3140]

Are they gonna lower the standards so women can make it thru training?

[@sunassam8030]

😅

[@tobyroyparkerjr.233]

Looks like they stuck in 16th century

[@2ndcomingofFritz]

They quite literally are

[@TheGrenadier97]

Which is wonderful, of course.

[@Teufer2]

That's just their ceremonial gear. They look like presidential bodyguards most of the time. Black Suit. Bulletproof Vest and hidden pistol. In a worst case scenario they also have assault rifles at their disposal.

[@ImNotCreativeEnoughToMakeUser]

Oh well no shit

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@Rustedinmyshackleferd]

There should be no women in the swiss guard

[@FedBureacrat]

Tell that to the woke pope

[@Rustedinmyshackleferd]

@@FedBureacrat id definitly say something but unfortunately i am only 1 person honestly i dont think women should be police,military or fire fighters and i have a legit reason for that as well .

[@GeoWorldPoliticss]

maybe they will need suxal relef from time to time , that why armies recrute femal mumbers , not to actually fight to be used whene nessessary

[@am1d]

Good enough for Ukraine. Send em over!

[@user-yb4yl8mv6d]

Зе продаст 😂😂

[@hismajesty6272]

Hell no. Ukraine banned the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It’s a nation ran by scoundrels.

[@God7OD]

Actually the world's smallest military is the Micronation of 7OD with 1 Royal Marine

[@MissCheeseE]

But that ain’t officially recognized.

[@God7OD]

@@MissCheeseE recognize these gonads

[@Teufer2]

In Switzerland it's illegal to serve in a military other than the Swiss Armed Forces. So officially Switzerland considers the Pontificial Guard as a Security Force.

[@christopherkehoe3402]

They need an update, its not the 1500s anymore

[@Braun30]

Does the term "ceremonial dress" mean anything to you?

[@firedogman2280]

Its their ceremonial dress, in actual combat and protection duties they look like regular soldiers and bodyguards.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@QuincyVollstandig]

I don’t see you complain British Coat-stream guards with their bearskin hats and red uniforms 🙄Which btw were used during the Crimean War in 1854

[@christopherkehoe3402]

@@QuincyVollstandig 300 year age difference there bud

[@rolandhubner6850]

Des Papstes Spielzeug

[@TheGrenadier97]

Should i remind you about the SS?

[@peacemen6460]

So they are not swiss after all.

[@oisinmtom]

They all are, the requirements to join are 1 being a swiss citizen and 2 having completed basic swiss military training and many more

[@alexyin01]

Also when it says swearing the "oath of allegiance in their native language" it is because in Switzerland there is 3 official languages which is French, German and Italian depending on the respective region.

[@ThatGuy-he6lc]

They are; Switzerland has four official languages: French, German, Italian and Romansh.

[@AlvinLagno]

Mute your mouth. Open your heart. They do nothing against you brother. .

[@daniel_sc1024]

In order to be a member of the Vatican's Swiss Guards, they have to be Swiss, Catholic, unmarried, between 19-30 years old, and have completed basic training in the Swiss Armed Forces. I believe after joining the Swiss Guard they can marry; I recall reading a caption in National Geographic of a Swiss Guard and his wife and infant son. But not 100% sure.

[@MB-xq9hu]

Seriously these costumes though... Can we have them in a museum to admire the past, but wear real clothes?

[@Qwerty0791]

I mean… have you seen the pope? Or bishops?

[@rangered_64]

Ceremonial genuis 🙄

[@davidpowell6098]

The only church leader allowed his own heavily armed ,private army, why more recruits, is he in any more danger? Hypocrisy.

[@Bus_Driver_Jay]

Probably because 34 would have been retired for age. It’s a fairly constant number.

[@pvt.potato1943]

I swear people these days are just looking for something to hate. The pope getting 34 new guards is interpreted as some type of hypocrisy. ​@Bus_Driver_Jay

[@Comic_Saens]

King Charles is technically a church leader, the Church of England. And he's got, goodness, probably thousands of royal guards etc.....

[@stevelafave309]

Unfortunately it is still necessary as Jphn Paul 2 was almost assassinated. Not to mention someone has the pretext the priceless architecture and artwork inside the Vatican walls.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Yeah, they don’t even have any gay black transgender lesbians. Racist colonizers

[@FalklandsRforeverBritish]

Weak and small 😂 How they have the cheek to insult our military 😂

[@hismajesty6272]

???

[@guilhermebenoni5259]

Their army is already weak, do they still want to make it worse? Lol. 02:54