Founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the Vatican’s elite security corps, tasked with protecting the Pope and the Apostolic Palace.
The Vatican has launched an internal investigation after a member of the Swiss Guard spat toward two Jewish women during a papal audience at St. Peter’s Square.
The disturbing incident reportedly occurred last month during the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a historic Vatican document that reshaped relations between Catholics and Jews.
Israeli author and theater director Michal Govrin said she and Vivian Liska, head of the Institute for Jewish Studies in Antwerp, were entering the square when a uniformed guard “visibly hissed at us, ‘les juifs’—the Jews—and made a gesture of spitting in our direction with obvious contempt.”
Her account, first published by La Repubblica, has been picked up by Catholic and Austrian outlets. Swiss Guard spokesman Cpl. Eliah Cinotti later confirmed that a formal but confidential inquiry is under way.
“This is standard procedure because the service must always be performed with the utmost professionalism,” he said.
Founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the Vatican’s elite security corps, tasked with protecting the Pope and the Apostolic Palace.
The force is celebrated for its discipline and oath of loyalty. Any verified breach of conduct, Vatican officials indicated, would be treated with the utmost seriousness.
When Pope Leo assumed the papacy in May, he inherited strained relations with Israel.
His predecessor, Pope Francis, had drawn outrage for calling Israel’s Gaza campaign “genocide,” softening his tone only after meeting families of hostages.
The new pontiff has since sought to rebuild trust, renewing dialogue with Jerusalem and publicly rejecting antisemitism.
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