It is the smallest and most mysterious army in the world: the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Its mission is to ensure the safety of the Pope. Made up of one hundred and fifty men, also called the Swiss Guards, this elite corps lives in a barracks in the heart of Vatican City. We see them during official ceremonies, escorting the Pope with their armor and halberds from another time. And some of them, the most experienced, accompany him on all his trips. Beyond the folkloric aspect of their costumes, these Swiss guards receive high-ranking military training: martial arts, close protection and handling of the latest automatic weapons. Another particularity: the Pope's soldiers must be of Swiss nationality and fervent Catholics. All took an oath to fight to the death to protect their faith and the Holy Father.
