Vatican City, Jan 7, 2021 / 13:00 pm
Fifteen new Swiss Guard recruits have arrived in Rome to complete their basic training.
The recruits for the world's oldest standing army -- having already completed required military training in Switzerland -- will now spend the next two months at the Vatican preparing for their duty to protect the pope and the Apostolic Palace.
"It is a pleasure for us to be able to welcome 15 new recruits from Switzerland," Swiss Guard spokesman Sgt. Urs Breitenmoser said in a statement published Jan. 6.
"With nine German-speaking, four French-speaking and two Italian-speaking recruits, we reach an effective total of 134 men," he said.