(Rome) For months, there have been rumors that the Argentine Pope could abolish the Pontifical Swiss Guard. In recent days, the speculation has intensified. This is due to the dismissal of Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig, commander of the Swiss Guard. On December 1, 2014 Pope Francis had fired Anrig a native of the canton of St. Gallen. Reasons were not disclosed. The media claimed that it could have been due to the "severity" of the colonel who commanded the papal guard unit since 2008. Daniel Rudolf Anrig will be officially dismissed as part of a military ceremony tomorrow.
The fact that Pope Francis has appointed no successor has fueled speculation about the dismissal of the Papal Guard. In an interview with the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, the Pope spoke highly of the dismissed Colonel Anrig. He was a "great person, a good Catholic, with a beautiful family." His dismissal was merely concerned with a "healthy and normal renewal," said the head of the Church. Since then there has been puzzling over what Pope Francis mean by a "healthy and normal renewal".
Quirky gestures, telegenic looseness or ...
Pope salutes Guards
In Rome, it is an open secret that the Argentine Pope knows little what to do with the tradition of the Swiss Guards Corps. Because of quirky gestures it has been speculated that the Pope has little respect for order and work of other show. Once he saluted one guard, as US Presidents are wont to do. So it seems inappropriate when a civilian performs a military salute, as well as the doubt creating the suggestion around the papal scene whether the Pope maybe just made a joke. Another time he went in passing a Guard and shook his hand. The young man laughed sheepishly on the out-of protocol gesture in camera flashes. The protocol was not the focus. The Pope had sufficient opportunity to go off the TV cameras to his guards.
Some observers see in Jorge Mario Bergoglio's phenomenal sense of pleasing and being prone to the media as the surest guarantee of the continued existence of the 500-year-old guard. They are telegenic and strikingly colorful because of the old uniforms, so they will not be dismissed by the Pope. That the announcement of Colonel Anrig's dismissal was carried out during the ad limina-visit of the Swiss Bishops speaks for others against this assumption. A mere courtesy toward the Swiss bishops does not fit.
Protecting the Pope Since 1506
Swearing-in of recruits
The Swiss Guard was established in 1506. Since then it has monitored the Pope and the Apostolic residences for their protection. It is the only guard from the Papal States, which has been preserved. Most military corps went down with the Papal States in 1870. The enduring guards, such as the Noble Guard and the Palatine Guard were simultaneously disbanded by Pope Paul VI. with the liturgical reform in 1970.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard is not a guard of Vatican City or the Church, but a bodyguard of the Pope. They agree to defend the integrity of the Pope with their lives. While the See is vacant, the guards have to ensure the safe conduct of the conclave as a new pope is enthroned. It is exclusively of Catholic Swiss nationals who have already done their military service in Switzerland and must not be older than 30 on entering and must be single.
In some Catholic Swiss Families the establishment has always been a tradition that a family member serves the Pope. The swearing in of new recruits will take place in a ceremony every year. Each recruit takes the oath in his native language (see Defending the Pope With Their Lives - the Swiss Guard recruits sworn in ).
Once there were numerous Swiss Guards of the militarily efficient germanic mountain people. Thus the King of France had a bodyguard of Swiss and also the Roman-German Emperor in Vienna, which is recalled in the Schweizertor the Hofburg. The Papal Swiss Guard is the only one that still exists today and is one of the most traditional military organizations in the world.
A year ago when Anrig's predecessor, Colonel Elmar Mader, retired, he caused a stir when he spoke of the existence of a homosexual "secret society" at the Vatican, which constitutes a "security risk".
To date, there is only speculation and the familiar shooting in the weeds. Remarkable it is that it could ever come to such speculation. This has to do with certain known signals and especially with a perceived climate.
Trans: vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
Well he might as well destroy them too ...he's almost dismantled most of the Vatican protocol...but this is the least of the issues ...it's just logical seeing the disaster this hurricane Pope has left in his path...
ReplyDeleteI wish he'd go away and never come back...
What a disgraceful thing for a Catholic to say about a pope. I know. I'm totally amazed that a lot of Catholics still insist that he's been chosen by the Holy Spirit and this shabby, destructive and vindicative person is God the Father's gift to the Church and humanity...his humilty is so clearly of the false variety.
I'm utterly tired of him...there is nothing left to say but that he's a bad pope. I tried to give him time...but he has devastated my trust in the present papacy by his shameful and obvious dislike and contempt for things that are truly Catholic...
Come on Give me a break! The Holy Ghost CHOSE this man?
I wish these Catholics who love him wouldn't be so ignorant - as their premise is not an article or dogma of faith..tired of them too as there's no talking to them. They think I'm off the wall and risk my soul by being out of unity with the Holy Father...
But how can a sincere and reasonably informed Catholic not be? He contradicts practically everything we hold dear...nothing has been left untouched by him in morals, tradition, liturgical rubrics, ecumenism etc.,to render them all "UN CATHOLIC"! Good grief!
Come on dear cardinals and bishops with a sense of the Catholic truth . DO SOMETHING! SAY SOMETHING? What more do we have to see and hear before being convinced of this man's utter disdain for the papacy and true Catholicism?
Pray for him - that is what Catholics are told to do. He is under Mary's mantle, no matter what. God takes care of his clergy. Some, many have fallen and it's our job to pray for them to come back and be the Catholic they are supposed to be. If we don't pray for this pope or any clergy, it will be on us. 3 Hail Mary's a day will do wonders for this pope and other clergy who have strayed. But you must have faith in the papacy and remember that God chose this man for whatever reason, good or bad. In the end God's glory will shine and hopefully this pope and any future popes will bring this Church to her glory via Mary to Jesus.
DeleteGod does not elect a pope. Men elect a pope, and the process is purely administrative and not an act of the Holy Spirit.
DeleteThe Church doesn't teach that Holy Spirt chooses the Pope. The College of Cardinals choose the Pope. The Pope is protected from teach error when he speaks ex cathedra on faith and morals and when he's teaching in union with the rest bishops. Thankfully, almost nothing he's said meets those things.
DeleteYou can wait a long time before you get cardinals to say something or to do something...Remember, the whole problem is Vatican II...They are attached to this heretic and apostatic doctrine...Until we burn the documents of VII in a bonfire on St Peter's Square you can bet your life you're not going to see changes...it will go worse...
DeleteThe Holy Spirit doesn't choose anti-popes.Learn the Catholic Faith before you start insults.
DeleteAnnonymous above asks: The Holy Ghost CHOSE this man? He seems to have a false notion of what the assitance of the Holy Spirit in the election of popes is about. There is no kind of revelation to the cardinals as to who they should elect. It is a very human thing and if anyone wishes to check out the history of the Papacy, he will find out that many of those chosen to exercise this important office have been morally iniquitous and calamities, one of the most notorious being Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borja, not to mention Julius II, who had Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. In the X century they were probably even worse. It seems to me that the action of the Holy Spirit is more in the fact that despite so many morally repulsive popes and others who were not up to their high office, the Church survives. There is no guarantee that there will not be more mediocre o evil popes. However, in the XX century there has been a string of good and holy popes. A catholic is not obliged to like or love a pope. He is obliged to respect him and obey as with his bishop also. However, he is not obliged to be in agreement with every word which comes from the mouth of a pope. Magisterium is a specific thing and it has various levels. Interviews are not included in it. Neither should they ridicule him as that is not good for the Church. He has his good and positive side and some may disagree legitimatley with his style. Personally I would prefer if he followed protocol as protocols are generally helpful and should be respected. A good Catholic should also be benign in his judgements regarding others, especially bishops and popes inasmuch as possible. That is also part of charity.
DeleteWhat a dope. Hillary Clinton behaved the same with the Secret Service. Francis really is a simpleton, a clown. Not a nice one though like Ronald MacDonald. He is more like Pennywise from the movie "IT".
ReplyDeleteNo family can have two fathers at once. I pray for the pope...whomever he is.
The Colonel was not dismissed. His tenure of office had come to an end and has just not been renewed. Again if someone salutes you it is surely only polite to acknowledge it in some way.
ReplyDeleteWhatever reservations one has about Pope Francis, and I have some, it really does not help to pick on trivialities.
Six of one, half a dozen of another. He was ordered not to renew his contract, and a successor hasn't been appointed. +Bergoglio *has* made disparaging remarks about the Guard and his deportment toward them is odd, if not disrespectful.
Deletehttp://vaticanresources.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf%2FITA_2014_049_0412.pdf
In case you were wondering. Whenever a clergyman complains about "rigidity", I know I'm dealing with a disciple of the Bologna School.
Deletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/11272128/Pope-Francis-clashed-with-rigid-Swiss-Guard-Commander.html
The Swiss Guard is probably not diverse enough for him. perhaps a squad of transvestites, Zionist Talmudic rabbis and Mormons would be more pleasing to him
Delete@Leon hahaha I literally LoL
DeleteHe's an alien from planet Peron, asked to lead a church he never gave a fig about....tough but true, BTW do you know that in St. Peter's outskirts lollypops with the image of the boR on are for sale ? There's a little prayer inside.....know is very sad, but it is the way it is .
ReplyDelete"Alien from the Planet Peron" What a great phrase! LOL
DeleteI love your comment but certainly true. I wonder if he prays. I mean internal prayer. He is like a gad fly or magpie always on the go. Certainly a cerebrate am concern with his salvation. Let us pray for him.
DeleteI would not be surprised. He'd degraded the office of the Papcy from the moment he stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter's at his election.
ReplyDeleteThat more Cardinals other that the great Cardinal Burke don't step to the plate and speak against him is disgusting.
The only thing that will stop this idiot is either his sudden death (possible), or the insurrection of a large majority of Curial and diosecean bishops and Cardinals and faithful to speak against him.
His head of the Synod Committee last week tried to ram the Pope Francis agenda regarding marriage and the family down the throats of the so called "new" lay movements and communities in Rome....and they turned against him (and Francis) vocally--issuing their support for Catholic traditional values. Francis' Synod head (Cardinal Baldissari I think) was so enraged he left in a temper tantrum and ran back to Francis. Boo Hoo.
Come Synod time, I hope there is a massive rejection of Francis' agenda, so much so that he gives up and resigns, or dies.
Wishful thinking I know. But I'd like him gone too! It's a shame to hate the Pope.
It's a sin to hate the pope and anyone else. Pray for the man if you are a Catholic and stop complaining.
DeleteStop complaining about people who have grievances. If you're incapable of empathy, shut your face and take your own advice.
Delete^precisely. Thank you.
DeleteBetter pray like Moses on Mount Horeb with your arms open in cross...that he's to be thrown off his horse on the way to Damas...This man does not have the faith...(can't even explain the basics of the Holy Trinity : three persons in one God) doesn't believe that Christs realized miracles, even Jews could not deny it! He hates tradition so badly that he would not hesitate to set up the whole Vatican place up for sale for the sake of his socialist views.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt has been far too long since we had a Pope martyred for the Faith. Although Saint John Paul II nearly entered the ranks of blessed prematurely by the machination of Muslims and Communists.
ReplyDeleteThe Pope is welcomed to do this and it is hoped that Muslim world will be attentive and oblige him in granting the crown of martyrdom.
It might be the best of all possible outcomes of his Papacy. It is difficult to imagine what it would do the elderly pink dissidents. A dark despair.
See below. And stop calling evil good.
DeleteWe must not forget that a martyr is someone that choses to give up his life rather than to oppose one dogma or truth that is handed to us by tradition from Christ to Pius XII...Can't call JPII a saint, nor a martyr...He promulgated heresy, practiced idolatry...this man is not a Catholic; doesn't have the true faith...practiced religious liberty. Did you know that a list of 101 heresies have been found in his personal encyclicals. A pope that promulgates one heresy loses authority and falls outside the Catholic Church... So, to call this man a martyr or a saint is naive. The only reason why Novus Ordo Church canonized him was to promote Vatican II.
DeletePope John Paul II is not a saint. He hardly believed in Catholicism. He was just as much a modernist of Vatican II as was Paul VI and Benedict XVI. A pope who protected child molesters is not someone to emulate or praise.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly and significantly, the political sainthood tsars at The Vatican ignored his 27 years as pope but only studied his personal life as a qualification. With the process being gutted in 1983 can anyone have faith in that.
DeleteOh God save us from Pope a Francis before he destroys everything!
ReplyDeleteThe Vatican has been corrupt and rank with apostasy since the mid 1950's.I say this in all due respect,because at one time I felt Benedict was a 'good pope'.Do some reading when you have time.Bugnini and the metz pact are good names & events to start researching.
DeleteAnonymous...He's doing a great job sinking the Novus Ordo....I support that. His persecution of traditionalists will only serve to stiffen our resistance. He's a loser whichever way he looks.
DeleteIf Catholic Altars are not safe from destruction ,nothing is.
ReplyDeleteIf babies are not safe in their mother's womb - you are not safe in your living room.
ReplyDeleteYou can die from Carbon monoxide, earthquake collapse, heart attack, axe-wielding murderers, terrorists, brain aneurysm.
DeleteAnd some children don't even get born before they die. Or killed.
Truly, if there is justice in the Universe, there must be a God; if not, why bother living if only for temporary pleasures and avoidance of pain, even if we trample some miserable souls who are going to die anyway?
But a Universe with God does care about the trampled. God does care about those treated unjustly. God can see what human eyes cannot. The problem with all these progressive clergymen is that their delusions of thinking they know what God is thinking, has spilled over to thinking they know what's best for the people following them around.
Yeah. Most life is pain and suffering. Avoiding it is an exercise in futility. But if you are reconciled with pain and suffering by identifying with that Man on the Cross, we realize that from time to time, God does give us a break; but we have to endure because even if the Universe is temporary and will be destroyed by horrific forces beyond our reckoning some day, our souls are immortal, and longs for home, which is not this cruel and transitory place.
Anonymous at 11:42
ReplyDelete"...it is hoped that Muslim world will be attentive and oblige him in granting the crown of martyrdom."
I had to laugh, but really, that's what I've been wishing, too. Shame, shame on me! LOL!
It's time for this man, Jorge Bergoglio, to be deposed. He is clearly a threat to the Catholic faith. His vision of the Church is not that of a religion, but of a spirutal movement tha caters exculsively to the poor and, just as importantly, the liberal media. I am disgusted by everything that has happened since March 13, 2013.
ReplyDeleteYes thank you all. I pray for Pope Francis everyday. I know the Holy Spirit doesn't choose the Pope - that was the point of my, perhaps unclear comment - the frustration in talking to Catholics who insist that he is. I should be more careful when I write , I obviously wasn't very clear. Besides I only comment occasionly here when particularly motivated to do so...the Swiss Guards thing was a provocation.....
ReplyDeletehe won't be happy until the vatican is stripped of all Catholic Identity was what passed through my mind ...then I let off steam with the rest...
The holy spirit doesn't choose anti-popes.Do not bash the Catholic faith until you have a better understanding of the true faith.
DeleteThe dismissal of Colonel Anrig may or may not signal the Pope's intent to disband the Swiss Guard. I'm not sure he could if he wanted to. Has it not occurred to anyone that the Guard serves as much to isolate the Pope as to protect him? Switzerland, after all, is home to the nameless, numbered accounts hiding the fortunes of the Prince of This World. I'm certain most of the guards are honorable, courageous young men, but it would not surprise me if there were one or two or more moles whose job it is to report on the Pope, and to restrain this or any Pope from the sudden use of his moral authority to restrict or eliminate usury (not that I think there is any particular danger of that happening under Francis).
ReplyDeleteThe choice of Casa Santa Marta also struck me as a way of temporarily averting the gaze of worldly powers that have certainly spent fortunes infiltrating and bugging the Apostolic Palace. By now, I'm sure it's business as usual for the moles and spooks of the devil, but for several days or weeks, Francis had freedom that no Pontiff in centuries has had. I know many on this forum think he would use such freedom wrongly. I pray that you are wrong, however much I fear that you are right.
That's the thing: we do not know what this pope will do next. We can't imagine what the next scandal will be. We can't foresee what will be the next slap against the faithful. What will be the next inventive name-calling? It used to be that we could depend on the pope to uphold the trues and traditions of the church and now we are in a fog.
ReplyDeleteThe Swiss Guard needs a Pope in order to have a function and reason to exist.I wish we could live to see a True Pope's coronation.Its been 1959 or so since it's happened.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit can guide the cardinals in conclave if they are open that guidance. God does NOT choose popes he ALLOWS them according to his own purpose and will.
ReplyDeleteThe church has suffered through disastrous papacies before. And the church survived. We'll do it again.