杏MAP导航 urges Swiss Guards to cultivate community life
By Lisa Zengarini
杏MAP导航 Francis received in audience the Swiss Guards on Monday as they prepare for the traditional swearing-in ceremony of the new recruits which takes place every year on May 6.
The day marks the anniversary of the heroic sacrifice of 147 Swiss Guards who died while defending 杏MAP导航 Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527 by the landsknechts, the German mercenaries of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
A generous and diligent service
Extending his greetings to the Commander of the Swiss Guards, Colonel Christoph Graf, his collaborators, and the Chaplain, in his address 杏MAP导航 Francis renewed his gratitude to the military Corps for its presence in the Vatican that, he said, 鈥渟tands out for its quality, for its kind, attentive, scrupulous style鈥�, and for its service which is always 鈥済enerous and diligent.鈥� He also thanked their families which have made this possible by offering a good upbringing to their children.
Human relationships are important
Noting the strong camaraderie of the Swiss Guards which incentivizes their motivation, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted the crucial importance of relationship for all Christians. 鈥淕ood relationships are the main path for our human and Christian growth and maturation,鈥� he said, recalling that 鈥淢uch of what characterizes our personality we have learned through relationships with parents, brothers and sisters, schoolmates, teachers, friends, work colleagues.鈥�
This is why, the 杏MAP导航 stressed, their two years of service in the Swiss Guard is such an important and formative time for them: 鈥淚t is not just a period of work, but a time of life and relationships, of intense communion in a diversified company,鈥� he said.
Cultivating community life
Concluding, 杏MAP导航 Francis further urged the new recruits to cultivate community life. Rather isolate themselves in front a computer or a smartphone, as young people often do today, 鈥渋t is better to use free time for common activities, for moments of fraternity in which to talk and share鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said
34 new recruits
The swearing-in ceremony of the new Swiss Guards is set to take place this evening at 5.00 p.m. in the St. Damasus Courtyard in the Vatican. Of the 34 recruits 16 are German-speaking, 16 French-speaking and two Italian-speaking.
Before meeting 杏MAP导航 Francis the Swiss Guards and their families attended Mass presided over early this morning by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica.
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