Their silent presence has been a constant in all events following the death of Pope Francis. The colonel and a major of this corps have sworn strict confidentiality under the risk of excommunication.

The answer to why the guards are the pope’s chosen protectors lies in their Renaissance-style uniform.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The world’s oldest army has new uniforms. But don’t worry: The Swiss Guards’ famed blue, yellow and red Renaissance-style billowy garb isn’t going anywhere. Rather, the pope’s army ...

Lieutenant Colonel Loic Marc Rossier, left, and Captain Lorenz Keusch pose for reporters as they present the Swiss Guard Mezza-Gala uniform in the Swiss Guard Barracks at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 2 ...

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV presided Saturday over the swearing-in ceremony of 27 new Swiss Guards, lending some surprise star power to the pomp-filled ceremony as the corps struggles to find enough ...

Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Pontifical Swiss Guard's 35th Commander Christoph Graf, left, upon his arrival to the swearing in ceremony of 27 Pontifical Swiss Guards cadets in the St. Damasus courtyard ...

The world’s oldest army has new uniforms. But don’t worry: The Swiss Guards’ famed blue, yellow and red Renaissance-style billowy garb isn’t going anywhere. Rather, the pope’s army on Thursday ...