Editing Military in Vatican City (section)

===Pontifical Swiss Guard (est. 1506)===
{{main| Pontifical Swiss Guard}}
[[File:Guardiasuiza2.gif|thumb|120px]]

The [[Pontifical Swiss Guard]] ({{langx|it|Guardia Svizzera Pontificia}}) was formed in 1506 by [[Pope Julius II]]. The unit was formed as the personal bodyguard of the Pope. At various points in its history the Swiss Guard has seen active service, but following the 1870 abolition of the Papal States it returned to its chief role as a bodyguard, with a limited ceremonial role, and survived into the period of the Vatican City State, as a ''de facto'' Vatican military unit from 1929.

The Swiss Guard continues to fulfil the bodyguard function,<ref>[http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=258&L=3 Pontifical Swiss Guards, History] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131030094000/http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=258&L=3 |date=2013-10-30 }}</ref> and provides security at the [[Apostolic Palace]] and the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo. In cooperation with the [[Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City]] it also controls access to the entrances to the city-state. Since the [[1981 Pope John Paul II assassination attempt|attempted assassination]] of the Pope in 1981 the Swiss Guard has undertaken more rigorous training, and a far more active security role, alongside its traditional ceremonial duties.

Since the early twentieth century the Guard has returned to its original practice of recruiting only Swiss nationals. As of 2005, the Guard had 134 members. All recruits complete basic military training with the Swiss Army before transferring to the Vatican,<ref>[https://archive.today/20130421222339/http://www.swissguard.va/index.php?id=265&L=3 Pontifical Swiss Guards, Become a Guard]</ref> and must be [[Catholics]] and at least 174&nbsp;cm (5&nbsp;ft 8.5 in) in height.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Swiss Guard - Admission Requirements|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/swissguard/ammissione_en.htm|website=La Santa Sede|publisher=Holy See|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> Members are armed with [[small arms]] for practical purposes, and for ceremonial functions the ranks carry the traditional [[Halberd]] (also called the Swiss voulge), the Corporals and Vice-corporals either [[Partisan (weapon)|Patisans]] polearms or [[Flame-bladed sword|Flammenschwert]] two-handed swords, while officers do not carry weapons, but command batons only.

Although the Pontifical Swiss Guard's first duty is the service of the Pope, during periods of "[[sede vacante]]" (when the office of pope is vacant), the Swiss Guard instead guards the College of Cardinals, as they meet to elect a new Bishop of Rome.