The origin of this army dates back to 1506, when Pope Julius II, who had been pontiff for three years, recruited a group of 150 Swiss mercenaries, who had a very good reputation, as his personal ...

When the world goes off kilter, words from the Vatican can seem toothless. But don’t underestimate the power of the Church’s ...

The Swiss Guard was established by Pope Julius II in 1506. Here's what to know about the 500-year-old military body.

The world's smallest army with tailor-made uniforms that have 154 pieces The uniform is from the Renaissance era and features a red, orange and blue striped tunic and a high, plumed helmet.

Drone-busting troops and special forces sharp-shooters are part of huge security operation at the Vatican as the world's VIPs join 500,000 mourners for Pope Francis's funeral ...

Today, this task falls to the members of the Swiss Guard, who are responsible for guarding the Vatican and, in particular, the Pope. Over the years, their evolution has been straightforward, from ...

POPE'S LITTLE ARMY MURMURS LOUDLY; Palatine Guards Object to Severity of Their General, Count Pecci. ROME IS MUCH AMUSED Vatican's Force of 300 Gives as Much Trouble as the Entire Army of Italy.

Pope Francis' condition remains critical but stable and he was able to do some work while still in the hospital with double pneumonia, the Vatican said in a Tuesday evening update.

The Vatican, headquarters of the Catholic Church, is the smallest state in the world, with its own newspaper, national anthem in Latin and supreme leader -- the pope.