Vatican Museums

The photographic exhibition The Life of a Swiss Guard. A private view, dedicated to the illustrious Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps, will be inaugurated by Professor Antonio Paolucci, Director of the Vatican Museums, and Col. Christoph Graf, Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, on Friday 1 April 2016 at 6 p.m. in the Courtyard of the Corazze.
On this special occasion, the particular armed Corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard – which has served the Holy Father since 1506 – will be presented in eighty-six black/white and colour photos by the photographer Fabio Mantegna and the exhibition of uniforms and objects documenting its long history.
«Only the Vatican Museums could host an exhibition presenting the glorious Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps» affirms Professor Antonio Paolucci, Director of the Vatican Museums. «The artistic photographs by Fabio Mantegna relate a noble and ancient history, but also the beautiful youth of a group of young men in the service of the Pope of Rome, proud and honoured by the role they represent and the service they are called to perform: the sense of duty and the humanity of accents mix with the dreams, enthusiasm and hopes of all youths around the world at the age of twenty».
«Being a Swiss Guard is a vocation» declares Col. Christoph Graf, Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Faith and deep commitment are needed to perform this extraordinary and noble task. «Day and night we are close to the Holy Father and we seek, through our service, to assure him of the tranquillity and serenity he needs to fulfil his ministry as the Successor of Peter».
The rich photographic selection is intended to show the daily commitment of the Swiss Guards, dedicated to their high responsibility in the task of constantly ensuring the safety of the Holy Father and his residence.
Making the most of privileged access to the private world of the “smallest army in the world”, Mantegna has been able to capture with simplicity and originality some of the less formal moments in the life of the young people behind the uniform of the glorious armed corps.
The images are accompanied by texts with comments and reflections by the Swiss Guards themselves on their work and experience, revealing points of view and outlooks on a little-known world and allowing a deeper and more intimate knowledge of them, beyond the usual public perception.
Overall, the rich photographic anthology and the selection of objects offer for the first time a rare and unique view of a particular group of men who for over 500 years have chosen to serve the Church in this singular way.
Realised thanks to the generous contribution of the California Chapter of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums and by Romina Cometti of the Patrons of the Arts Office directed by Fr. Mark Haydu, the exhibition will be open to the public from 2 April to 12 June 2016 and will be accessible free of charge as part of the standard visit itinerary, during the normal opening hours of the Vatican Museums.