Lugano celebrated three days during the former Swiss guards – Swiss Catholic portal

For the first time in its history, from June 20 to 22, 2025, Ticino welcomed the central party of the Association of former Pontifical Swiss Guards. More than 300 former guards, accompanied by their families and friends, participated, in the presence of Mgr Alain de Raemy. “It was a dream for years,” said Graziano Rossi, president of the Swiss-Italian section.

de catt.ch, translation and adaptation Lucienne Bittar

The ›Central Festival ‘of the Association of former Pontifical Swiss Guards takes place every two years in one of its thirteen sections of Switzerland-a 14th” Urbi et Orbi “section was founded a year ago in Rome for the ex-guardians who have remained in Rome and for all the ex-guards of the world. This year, the Assembly took place in Lugano, with the participation of the religious and civil authorities. A first in the history of this association.

Nostalgia for Rome

Former chaplain of the pontifical guard and apostolic administrator of the diocese of Lugano, Mgr Alain de Raemy recalled that the common thread that unites each guard is the pope. “Many Swiss guards begin without much experience of the Church, but all experience a very strong camaraderie and rediscover faith, to the point that when they return to Switzerland, they seek mass in Italian to rediscover the atmosphere of Rome,” he said. he says.

When they return home, some feel an “emptiness”, he notes again. “From a total community life, we go to organized loneliness: here, you have to make an appointment to see a friend. In Rome, every hour, there is someone to talk to. ” And it is this intensity that makes their experience so unique and formative: “They experience to be foreigners together, united by a great cause: the defense of the Pope.”

An intergenerational unit

The current commander of the Swiss guard, Christoph Graf, also underlined with conviction the deep value of the service: “Once guard, we remain for life. It’s a family that always lasts. “

The rally in Ticino has also highlighted intergenerational unity between the guards: young people and veterans are united by the same spirit of friendship, he pointed out, highlighting the spiritual role devolved to the ancient guards, become “living witnesses of the faith”.

And to young people who wish to join the body, Commander Christoph Graf launched: “You have to have faith, the sense of service and the awareness of entering a unique tradition that has lasted for more than 500 years.”

President of the Swiss-Italian section, which organized the event, Graziano Rossi, said it was particularly happy that this “first” Ticino took place in the jubilee year. “We took the opportunity of the jubilee to offer the best of our territory”.

The association of ancient Pontifical Swiss guards, created in 1921 in Friborg, brings together more than a thousand members across Switzerland. In 2023, the former guards gathered in Signelégier, in the Jura. (cath.ch/catt.ch/lb)