The Jubilee of the Pontifical Swiss Guard (colour litho)

The Jubilee of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. On May 6, what is perhaps the oldest existing military corps turns four and a half centuries of life. On that day in the Vatican will take place the oath of the new soldiers with a ceremony that will take on a more solemn character this year. Each recruit, having listened to the sacramental formula, read in German and French, advances to the flag that a sergeant holds with a horizontal pole, stands with open legs, raises his right hand over the cloth with three fingers raised and, in the sign of the Trinity, he swears. Illustration for Courier Sunday, 6 May 1956.