Keepers of the Faith

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Talk about divine inspiration. Twenty-eight army recruits stood at attention at a swearing-in ceremony on May 6, each holding his weapon — a combination of spear and battle ax called a halberd — and listening intently to the boss' pep talk. "I hope that despite the heaviness of your service you will live this time of mission as a deepening of your faith," he said. Of course, not many armies can boast that their commander is Pope John Paul II, the peace-loving head of the Roman Catholic Church. And in an era of drab, utilitarian uniforms, few recruits start their service in feathered helmets, blue-yellow-and-red tunics and pantaloons reportedly designed by Michelangelo.

As members of the Vatican's élite Swiss Guard, the recruits will protect the Pontiff, as well as ensure security at the Apostolic Palace and the four main entrances to the Vatican, an around-the-clock job that requires skills as diverse as fluency in Italian and proficiency in martial arts.

Swiss Guards have been the beneficiaries of papal blessings and colorful garb since 1506, when 150 Swiss soldiers arrived in Rome to guard Pope Julius II. But such perks may no longer be enough to entice young Swiss Catholics to serve in the Papal army. Although 28 recruits joined in May, the 110-member force is still 17 men short. "Recruitment can be difficult, and we are intensifying our efforts," says Colonel Pius Segmüller, the Swiss Guard commander responsible for keeping the ranks filled. "Part of the problem may be that we have very high standards and a tough selection process focused on quality rather than quantity."

Indeed, the criteria are rigorous: candidates must be single Swiss men under 30 years of age and over 174 cm in height, who boast at least a secondary education and have undergone basic military training in Switzerland's armed forces. They must also be practicing Catholics and present a certificate from their parish testifying to their moral character and regular attendance at Mass. In addition, a letter is needed from each candidate's local authority certifying that he has been an upstanding member of the community. "It's important for us to have only the best," says Segmüller, who has led the Swiss Guard since the 1998 murder of his predecessor, Alois Estermann, by a corporal passed over for a merit award. "And it goes without saying that in order to work in the Vatican the candidate must be a church-goer. He must believe in what he is doing here." To replenish the ranks, Segmüller has hired a job-recruitment firm in Switzerland to tap into the potential pool of suitable candidates, which he estimates at about 30,000 in this predominantly Protestant country of 7.3 million. Now three recruiters are visiting the nation's military boot camps, Catholic parishes and seminaries, giving motivational talks about the benefits of serving in the Swiss Guard. One of them, André Wyss, retired head of recruitment for the Swiss Army, acknowledges that finding willing candidates is a difficult task. "Years ago, when Catholic families in Switzerland had many children, it was easier to fill the ranks," he says. "At times, there was even a waiting list. Now young people are more reluctant."

Some say that Switzerland's strong economy may be to blame for dwindling ranks. A recruit earns about $1,000 a month, a low wage by Swiss standards. "When the country's economic situation is good, people are less attracted to low-paying jobs," Segmüller says. But Wyss points out that the Guards pay no taxes or health insurance during their two-year tour of duty, and room and board are provided free of charge in the Vatican's barracks. "Besides, nobody should join the Guard just for the money," says Wyss, who offered to forgo his pay as a recruiter. "Serving the Holy Father is a great spiritual experience and an honor. And it's good for Switzerland's image too."

It is an honor that the country's Catholics are vowing to maintain. "Recruitment has had its ups and downs but this tradition is as relevant today as ever," says Bishop Norbert Brunner, a liaison between the Swiss Catholic Church and the Vatican. "I hope that the day when there are no more willing candidates will never come." If Wyss and Segmüller have their way, fresh recruits will keep boosting the Guard's ranks. "I tell them this is the best experience they will have, both spiritually and culturally," Segmüller says. He is hoping this argument will convince Switzerland's young Catholics that being a Swiss Guard is a job made in heaven.