Vatican City, Mar 7, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Officials at the Vatican are celebrating 500 years of protection by the Swiss Guard with a new exhibition commemorating the world’s oldest active military force.
The exhibit, entitled: "The Pontifical Swiss Guard, 500 years of history, art and life" is due to be inaugurated on March 29th in the Charlemagne Wing off of St. Peter's Square.
The Holy See has pointed out that the exhibition brings together for the first time, a number of historical objects and documents compiled from various museums and institutions.
Among them is the original Bull, sent by Pope Julius II in 1505 to the Swiss Confederation explaining that he had called upon prelate Peter von Hertenstein to recruit 200 Swiss soldiers to guard and protect the person of the Pope and the papal palaces.