The Swiss Guard is looking for new recruits and these are its requirements

The Swiss Guard, the smallest professional army in the world, in charge for more than 500 years the safety of the pope and the Vatican, look for new recruits.

This Monday, May 6, on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of 147 soldiers who gave their lives to protect Pope Clement VI from the troops of Charles V new recruits will be sworn. They are only 23. A lower number than the 33 soldiers who joined the Swiss Guard last year and the 40 who joined in 2017.

The corps commander, Christoph Graf, explained that the lack of recruits responds to different causes. While the average salary in Switzerland is around € 5,400 ($ 6,045), as a guard, you earn a lot less, about € 1,500 ($ 1,679).

The prosperity of the Swiss economy and its low unemployment rate lead to Young people find work easily. Added to this is the fact that there are fewer and fewer believers.

"Be a guard It's a vocation "said Graf.

Soldiers who enter the Swiss Guard are not driven by an economic motive, an immense desire to protect the pontiff in his travels and in his residence.

Last year, Pope Francis authorized the increase in the number of recruits. To meet the needs, he demanded to pbad from the current 110 soldiers, to 135.

Despite their efforts to attract young people, reaching this number It would take at least 4 or 5 years. The weak arrival of new members, besides the losses and the substitutions, worries the commander.

"It's our big challenge, to find guards, because every year we have to replace about a third of the body "said Christoph Graf.

To achieve this, the Swiss Guard created a profile in social networks and a website in which they explain in detail their history and activities. Each month, they publish a video in which they share their daily lives and the military talk about their experience in the body. They also organize open houses to show interested young people how to live when they are Swiss guards.

Members often visit schools to explain to students that they are ordinary children. They have three days off a week and they can to marry after five years of service.

"This is not a seminar, although many people think so. But it is true that there are young people who discover here the vocation to serve the church, "revealed the commander.

Conditions to become Swiss Guard

In 1506, Pope Julius II negotiated with some Swiss cantons sending a group of volunteers to take charge of his personal defense. They were the beginnings of the Swiss Guard, which has since practically he has not changed his requirements.

To enter it is mandatory to have between 19 and 30 years old, of Swiss nationality, have served in the country's army, measure over 1.74 meters, are Catholic and single and have no criminal record. As well he demands to be a manA condition that the Guard will not change, despite the lack of recruits.

In addition to these requirements, considered by citizens as somewhat elitist, it is necessary to a letter from the pastor That he shows good reputation and has no criminal record. Once in, they must stay in the Guard for at least 26 months.