First with Filipino blood to serve as Pope's guard

Lieutenant Vincent Lüthi, a Filipino-Swiss, took oath last October 4, 2020 in Vatican City as one of the new members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard making him the first man with a Filipino blood to serve as a papal guard.

He is one of the 38 new members of corps whose main duty is to guard and defend the pope.

New recruits are required to be unmarried Swiss Catholic males between ages 19 to 30 that have completed the basic training in the Swiss Army. The Pontifical Swiss Guard was established by Pope Julius II in 1506 which currently has 135 members.

Words by Donna C. Buñao

Screenshot from Vatican News