Serving the Pope with Your Life — What It's Like to Be a Swiss Guard

Oct 18, 2025 | Dario is 25, Swiss, and has just sworn to protect the Pope — even if it costs him his life.

In this rare behind-the-scenes look, we follow him through Vatican City, past tourists and tradition, and into the inner workings of one of the world's oldest military units.

From colorful uniforms to silent guards, from ancient rituals to modern challenges — this is the story of one man's mission at the center of the Catholic Church.

What’s life really like inside the Vatican? What are the duties of the Pope’s mysterious army? And what drives young men like Dario to take this sacred oath?


Here is a related documentary.

The Pope's Mysterious Army | DW Documentary | Reupload

Apr 18, 2025 | It’s the smallest and most mysterious army in the world: the Pontifical Swiss Guard. The film accompanies these men of faith and combat, from their recruitment in Switzerland to their military training in the heart of the Vatican.

Made up of 150 men, this élite corps lives in barracks in the heart of Vatican City. All must be Swiss nationals and devout Catholics. All have sworn to fight to the death to protect their faith and the Holy Father.

They are heirs to a 500-year-old tradition in which the Pope’s protection and security were assured by mercenaries from Switzerland.

Trained to wield both halberds and semi-automatic assault rifles, the Swiss Guards form a unique army. But who are they really? What motivates these young boys to join this military and religious corps? An insight into a world usually closed to the cameras.