The Swiss Guard is the oldest army in the world. Steeped in tradition, bearing the weight of history, the Pontifical Swiss Guard—like the whole of the Catholic Church—is in a constant balancing act between safeguarding heritage and responding to modern-day needs.

In this deep dive episode of “Inside the Vatican,” the team reports from the Swiss Guard’s barracks on how the historic corps is navigating the tension between past, present and future.

Interviews include:

David Alvarez, military historian and author of The Pope's Soldiers: A Military History of the Modern Vatican
Corporal Nicola Crivelli, vice-instructor of the Swiss Guard
Corporal Eliah Cinotti, spokesman of the Swiss Guard
Halbardier Sven Rechsteiner, a new guard
Rev. Kolumban Reichlin, O.S.B., chaplain of the Swiss Guard

Links from the show:

The Swiss Guards have a new uniform. Don’t worry, the iconic one remains

Female Swiss Guards? New expansions open the door for change at the Vatican

Credits:

Producers: Maggi Van Dorn, Ricardo da Silva, S.J., and Colleen Dulle

Executive producer: Sebastian Gomes

Audio engineer: Frank Tuson

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Deep Dive: The Swiss Guard, between tradition and reform