Vatican's Swiss Guard debuts new uniform

Vatican's Swiss Guard debuts new uniform

The Swiss Guard's new uniform is for events outside the Vatican.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/vaticans-swiss-guard-debuts-new-uniform/story?id=126156661

By Katie Kindelan October 2, 2025, 1:48 PM



The world's smallest army, charged with guarding the pope and the Vatican, has a new look.

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The return to the non-ceremonial uniform is seen by Swiss Guard officials as a way to distinguish themselves as a military corp.


Visitors to the Vatican will still get to see Swiss Guard members in their ceremonial red, yellow, and blue Renaissance-style uniforms, which they will continue to wear when guarding the home of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Members of Swiss Guard attend a ceremony, May 8th, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican.
Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Established in 1506, the Swiss Guard's mission is to always guard and protect the pope and his official residence, the Apostolic Palace, as well as cardinals who gather during the papal conclave.

More than two dozen new recruits, who all come from a group of Swiss towns and villages, will join the Swiss Guard on Saturday when they are sworn in during a ceremony at the Vatican.

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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, Oct. 2, 2025.