A member of the Switzerland guard He fainted this Wednesday in front of the gaze of Pope Francis during the traditional general audience in the Paul VI hall of the Vatican.
The Swiss guard collapsed suddenly, face down, making a loud noise as he fell with his halberd and plumed helmet, an AFP photographer noted.
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He was immediately attended to by the people around him, who helped him up. The episode lasted only about twenty seconds.
Thanks to the images of the incident, Pope Francis can be seen, sitting in a large armchair upholstered in white fabric, while he watches, with a worried look despite his glasses, the young guard in his colorful official suit as he regains consciousness.
Swiss Guard faints in full audience
It happened this Wednesday, August 17, in the Paul VI hall of the Vatican. A Swiss guard fainted in the middle of the catechism, practically in front of the Pope. Some came to help him. Later he returned to his post. pic.twitter.com/GuQVN3zHh4
— Fr. Jorge Enrique Mújica, LC (@web_pastor) August 17, 2022
After about two minutes, the time it took to regain consciousness, the Swiss Guard was escorted out of the Paul VI room.
Asked by AFP about the causes of the fainting and the state of health of the Swiss guard, the Vatican spokesman said that “it was probably a drop in blood pressure.” “She’s fine now,” he added.
For many observers, the famous Swiss Guard uniform with blue, yellow and red stripes, a pleated collar of bright white cloth and a light metal helmet with an ostrich feather may not be suitable for the summer heat, despite than to the immense room of the Vatican has air conditioning.
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In addition to the helmet with red feathers, since in this case it was a halberdier, the gala uniform includes baggy pants and a jacket with the famous white collar.
According to the photographer, Pope Francis approached the end of the audience to speak with a member of the Swiss Guard, which he does not usually do.
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The Swiss Guard is one of those military bodies that, despite its peculiar appearance, take its mission very seriously, since it is dedicated exclusively to protecting the pope. It is the smallest army in the world and also the oldest, with more than 500 years of history.
It was created in 1506 by Pope Julius II and throughout its history it has had its ups and downs and has been on the verge of dissolution on several occasions.
At the beginning of his pontificate, in 2013, Pope Francis praised “the professionalism” of the Vatican Swiss Guard and according to press rumors, the Argentine pope even offered a chair and something to eat to the Swiss guard in charge of his night protection against to his apartment in the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, where he is staying, since he did not want to move to the luxurious pontifical apartment in the apostolic palace.
The rigid rules of that historic body surprised the Latin American pope, who invited the bewildered young captain to rest after discovering that he had spent the entire night on his feet.
As the guard refused, arguing that the rules prevented him, Francisco told him: “I am the pope and I ask you to sit down”, and then offered him bread and ham.
AFP
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