TWENTY-EIGHT NEW SWISS GUARDS TO BE SWORN IN

VATICAN CITY, MAY 3, 2002 (VIS) - In the afternoon of Monday, May 6 in Vatican City's San Damaso courtyard, 28 new recruits of the Swiss Guard will be sworn in during a ceremony commemorating the death of 147 guards who gave their lives in defense of Pope Clement VII on the same date in the year 1527.

Eighteen guards will make their oath in German, six in Italian and four in French. The ceremony will be attended by Vatican City authorities and by representatives from diplomatic delegations, from the Swiss Army and from other countries.

At 7:30 a.m., the guards and their families will attend a Mass in the Hall of Blessings of the Apostolic Palace, celebrated by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs in the Secretariat of State. At 8:45 a.m. they will participate in a ceremony to commemorate the dead of the Corps at the Monument to the Fallen in the Courtyard of Honor of the barracks. An audience with the Holy Father is scheduled for midday and the swearing-in ceremony will begin at 5 p.m.

...;SWISS GUARDS OATH;...;...;VIS;20020503;Word: 190;