The Swiss Guard, as before, has an excellent reputation, not only in Switzerland but also abroad
Ruth Metzler-Arnold was once a member of the Swiss Federal Council, and today she serves as chairwoman of the Foundation of the Swiss Papal Guard (Stiftung der Päpstlichen Schweizergarde), whose task is to provide financial support to the guards and implement measures to improve their living and service conditions. Swiss national German-language public (non-governmental) radio SRF asked her to elaborate on the situation with recruiting new recruits for service in the Vatican and how much a papal guard actually earns.
– Ms. Metzler-Arnold, why is the Swiss Guard in the Vatican facing personnel problems?
– The Swiss Guard, as before, has an excellent reputation, not only in Switzerland but also abroad. However, it is very difficult now to find young, educated people willing to spend several years in service to the Holy See. This is due to the good economic situation in the country, as well as the demographic "valley" that Switzerland is currently experiencing. At the same time, I would not want to consider the available figures in isolation from a broader context: yes, in recent years, recruitment indicators for service in the Guard have experienced a decline, but there were years when these figures grew.
– Scandals related to sexual abuse have dealt a serious blow to the church's reputation. How does such a "tarnished image" affect the Swiss Guards?
– Of course, both positive and negative events in the Catholic Church matter for the Guard, especially considering that the Swiss Guards are directly involved in protecting the Pontiff. But there are also joyful events, such as the election of Francis as Pope, which were perceived positively and showed the Swiss Guards in a good light.
– What specifically is your foundation doing to make service in the Guard more attractive to young people?
– Recruitment is not among the foundation's goals. What is our task, however, is to improve the living conditions of the guards. In this regard, both the foundation and the Vatican itself have already implemented or are implementing a number of measures aimed at making service in the Guard more attractive and meaningful. The Pope's decision to allow guards, in particular, to start families and marry after five years of service, regardless of rank and position, was almost key to improving the personnel situation. Previously, only officers, non-commissioned officers, and sergeants could marry, and only after 10 years of service.
– What financial role does this "marriage relaxation" play for your foundation?
– The wedding itself has no financial consequences. The consequences begin when children appear on the horizon. Recently, the foundation has taken on the cost of the Swiss school in Rome, which is a relatively significant amount – from 2,500 to 4,100 francs per year. Given the very modest annual income of a guard, up to 27,000 euros per year, and only after 15 years of service, such expenses can become a very serious blow to the family budget. And what if there are two children in the family? But these expenses, of course, are a significant burden on the budget of our Foundation.
– What other forms of support does the Foundation provide?
– Recently, we decided to cover half of the contributions that Swiss Guards voluntarily transfer to the Swiss state pension fund AHV. In this sense, our Foundation plays the role of a bridge between the regular service of the guards, which takes place in accordance with the Italian Labor Code, and their historical homeland, in order to facilitate their financial reintegration into Switzerland after retirement and return home. We believe that such assistance can increase the willingness of young people to enter service in the Guard.
– How have you settled into your new role as head of the Stiftung der Päpstlichen Schweizergarde Foundation, which you took up in July 2018?
– This work brings me both joy and satisfaction, although its intensity is very high. Last fall, I went to Rome for a few days to get acquainted on site with the work of the guards and their living and service conditions, paying special attention to the needs and concerns of their families. Such trips give much more than annual protocol events like wreath-laying or oath-taking. However, in any case, I was very glad to have the opportunity to attend the oath-taking ceremony for the first time as chairwoman of the Foundation. It was and remains a magnificent event.
As noted by the portal Swissinfo.ch, the Vatican Guard, consisting of Swiss, was created by order of Pope Julius II, and its existence is officially dated from 1506. Traditionally, new recruits are sworn in on May 6 in memory of the 147 guards who died defending Pope Clement during the capture and sack of Rome by troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1527.