It’s easy to know when the Pope is near! Having just returned from the Vatican with wonderful memories, I’m thinking of how nice it is to know who lets us know when Pope Leo is present.
Those special soldiers of the Swiss Guard are always present with the Pope. They are a fascinating group of young men. They must have completed military training in Switzerland, aged between 19 and 30 years, at least a high school diploma, must be male, AND must be Roman Catholic with an application endorsed by a local parish priest.
Their primary role is to protect the Pope, even if it cost them their lives. They perform various ceremonial tasks with their Renaissance-style uniforms and they guard the entrance to Vatican City.
Their flag is quite meaningful. There are four quadrants of a square. The lower right is the coat of arms of Pope Julius II who founded the guard. The upper left is the coat of arms of Pope Leo. The other two are the beautiful Swiss Guard colors of Orange, Blue and Red. It was an honor to be in their presence.
Finally, I want to wish my brother a very Happy Birthday!