Pinoy sworn in as Vatican Swiss Guard

MANILA, Philippines — A 24-year-old Filipino from Davao was among 23 recruits of the elite Pontifical Swiss Guard, who were sworn in as protectors of the pope during a ceremony at the Vatican on Saturday.

The CBCPNews, the official newsletter of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philipines, said that Sebastian Esai Eco Eviota was the first full-bloodied Filipino to join the “world’s smallest army.”

The recruits were joined by their families and delegates of the Swiss Confederation and Swiss Bishops during the ceremony held at the Courtyard of Saint Damascus.

The ceremony commemorated the sacrifices of the 147 Swiss Guards, who died protecting Pope Clement VII in 1527.

The recruits attended mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and met with Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace.

In October, a Swiss-Filipino, whose mother was from Cebu, was also sworn in as a Vatican guard.

Eviota moved to Switzerland in 2009 and joined the Youth for Christ, the youth ministry of the Couples for Christ. He was a second lieutenant in the Swiss Army before he was admitted to the Vatican in January.

Five years ago, the Vatican expanded the size of the Pontifical Swiss Guard from 110 to 135 men.