Beneath the shadow of Michelangelo’s dome, a quiet sentinel stands.
Clad in vibrant Renaissance-era stripes of blue, red, and gold, the soldier could be mistaken for a character from a living museum.
But don’t let the pageantry fool you — this is no costume. This is the Pontifical Swiss Guard: called the world’s smallest army, and one of its oldest, elite, and most storied.
They have pledged allegiance to the Pope, and have sworn to protect them even if it means laying their life down.
As part of their role they guard the buildings in Vatican City such as the Apostolic Palace, the Vatican Museum and St Peter’s Basilica.
Although not a police force, they do have the authority to enforce rules and regulations within the Vatican walls. This means they can stop people from entering restricted areas.
But for guards, their job is not just to serve the Pontiff with their life, it is a far more meaningful calling, which goes to the heart of their Catholic faith.
For Mario Enzler, a Swiss citizen born and raised in a town in northern Italy just outside Milan, who served in the force under Pope John Paul II, from 1989 to 1993, it caused a ‘transformation’ in his life.
For Mario Enzler, a Swiss citizen born and raised a town in northern Italy just outside Milan, who served in the force under Pope John Paul II, it caused a ‘transformation’ in his life
Mario was a Swiss Guard and a bodyguard while John Paul II was the Pope between 1989 and 1993
For Mario, left, during those five year he had a first-hand account of walking alongside the Pope for much of his time which meant the two became very close
Switzerland follows a principle which means citizenship is passed down by descent, not by birth place, which means for Mario, he was a Swiss citizen because his father was Swiss.
Despite being over 30 years since he left, having had a career in banking and now working in the United States, he said: ‘My experience with the Swiss Guard—how I ended up joining, the opportunities I embraced, and the benefits I gained—continues to shape me.
‘I still carry those lessons with me and try to share as many stories and insights as I can, because it was truly a transformative experience.’
He told MailOnline his time in the service looked different as he went on. Unlike the King’s Guards, the Swiss Guard also serve as the Pope’s bodyguards and therefore follow him wherever he goes.
So for Mario, those five years were not just spent standing guard outside St Peter’s Basilica, he had a first-hand account of walking alongside the Pope for much of his time which meant the two became very close.
‘You really establish a relationship with the Supreme Pontiff, that transcends exclusivity of the security scope,’ he said.
There a number of times which he will remember such as when he came face to face with a man claiming to Jesus Christ himself, when the Pope was ignored by journalists whilst meeting President Bush senior, or when James Bond star Sean Connery asked to take a picture whilst Mario was on his guard shift.
What makes the role of a guard so special for those who join is the history the role carries.
While now working at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C. as an adviser to President Trump, Mario remains in touch with many of his former Swiss Guard colleagues
Although not a police force, the guards have the authority to enforce rules and regulations within the Vatican walls. Pictured: Stock image of Swiss Guard at St Peters’ Square
During the Middle Ages, Swiss mercenaries were valued for their combat skills and began serving the Church in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Swiss Guard was formally established by Pope Julius II in 1506.
The role of the Swiss Guard is steeped in history. During the Middle Ages, Swiss mercenaries were valued for their combat skills and began serving the Church in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Swiss Guard was formally established by Pope Julius II in 1506.
To join, recruits must be between 19 and 30, at least 5’8′ tall, and have a professional diploma or degree.
Training includes weapons handling, tactics, personal defence techniques, and psychological endurance to handle difficult situations.
Although they carry halberds or swords, when it comes to protecting the Pontiff, all soldiers carry guns which they’ll use, if forced.
For Mario, a Catholic young man, he had just finished school and wanted to become a musician, but he joined the force after a suggestion from his father.
‘While I was in training for 17 weeks, someone mentioned an opening in the Swiss Guard.
‘At first, I said, “No, thank you.” I just couldn’t picture myself standing still on cobblestones, not moving, not speaking—that’s what I thought the Swiss Guards were: rigid, strong men who stood silently on watch.
‘That was the image I had growing up, visiting St. Peter’s and seeing the guards up close.
‘But the more I thought about it—the chance to go to Rome, to live in the Vatican, to learn about Church policy, and to witness the deep faith of His Holiness—I became intrigued.
‘So, I said yes. And when I finished my 17 weeks of training, instead of heading back to northern Italy I went straight to Rome.’
Mario said: ‘But the more I thought about it—the chance to go to Rome, to live in the Vatican, to learn about Church policy, and to witness the deep faith of His Holiness—I became intrigued’
‘I didn’t know exactly who he was,’ Mario said of the Pope, ‘but I knew, without a doubt, that whatever he had… I wanted it.
From the first encounter, Mario felt an undeniable pull to the Pope.
‘I didn’t know exactly who he was,’ Mario recalled, ‘but I knew, without a doubt, that whatever he had… I wanted it.’
He added: ‘But when you’re there you understand it’s not just an opportunity for a young man to promise to give up his life for the Pope but it’s an opportunity to really understand what it means to be Catholic and how Catholic should or must behave.’
He added: ‘It was an opportunity to strengthen my faith, and to find that God is in pursuit of you, so you can be in pursuit of others.
‘That’s what John Paul II showed me—he was authentically following God’s plan and will as I am sure Pope Benedict and Pope Francis did.’
The job offered countless moments of connection, like when he stood on duty when he came face to face with a man claiming to be Jesus Christ himself.
Switzerland follows a principle which means citizenship is passed down by descent, not by birth place. Pictured: Stock image of Swiss guard
A Swiss Guard stands by as Pope John Paul II cheers from his popemobile in St Peters’ Square. Picture: Stock image
It happened during a routine shift, a man approached him with quiet intensity and said, ‘I’d like to tell your boss that he can go home.’
Mario, unsure of what to make of it replied: ‘Which boss? I have several.’
‘No, no,’ he said. ‘All the way to the top. I am Jesus Christ and I am back. And I need to tell the Pope he can go back to Poland—I don’t need him anymore.’
There was a pause, the kind that stretches wider than the square itself. Mario, trained in discipline and diplomacy, kept his composure, ‘well, the Pope isn’t available at the moment. But if you’d like to leave your number, I’ll be sure to have him give you a call.’
Mario was in the room when the Pontiff met George H W Bush and after the two met in private and came out to speak to journalists.
‘When the two came out and they came to speak to American journalists and priests I remember they spoke for a little bit and then afterwards the American media wanted to ask the President questions about home affairs. They surrounded the President, to the point where the poor Father was trampled all over. We had to surround the Pope to make sure no one injured him.
‘And it was a moment which really showed his humility because when the President had left and we apologised to him for what had happened, the Pope replied with “It’s understandable. I am just a priest.”‘
On another occasion, he was guarding one of the buildings when out of the door accompanied by one of the priests was James Bond actor Sean Connery.
Mario said: ‘He came out with one of the priests, I don’t know if he had met the Pope, but when he saw me he asked to take a picture of me.
‘I was in my 20s and in duty so at first I thought I recognised him but I realised it was him. It was one of those strange moments, because he was so excited to see me, even though I was just a guard. He didn’t say much and quickly went on his way.’
For Mario, the magic and importance of the role, also meant he was able to build a friendship with Pope John Paul and get to know him so well, he was able to tell what he was thinking.
‘You get to know him so well that the Pope can give you a look, and you just know he’s about to go somewhere unexpected.
‘He realises it’s not what you were anticipating—but he goes anyway. Maybe we’re in public and you’re here and he needs to go over there to meet a group of nuns he wants to visit. And in that moment, you know there’s no stopping him.
Mario explained: ‘You get to know him so well that the Pope can give you a look, and you just know he’s about to go somewhere unexpected.’ Pictured: Swiss Guards stand in protection of Pope John-Paul II
Pope John Paul II meeting the Swiss Guard who have pledged to protect the Pontiff
‘Unlike say the Secret Service, who can tell the President not to go somewhere because of security, with the Pontiff, if he wants to go somewhere, he will go and all you have to do is follow him.’
As men in their twenties, their only escape from the seriousness of their post was often found, as you’d expect, in bars and even had a drink of choice.
‘There was an Irish pub the guards always went, and would go there since it opened in the late seventies.
‘And the people there would always tell us to get a white Guinness and they called it a blonde.
‘They would then get a small shot of, what I think was Jack Daniels, and drop it in the beer.
‘It was always a lot of fun and there was always someone with a guitar and singing and that was how we often spent the free time we had with each other.’
Over 30 years after leaving the force, now married to his wife Julie, who he met whilst she was studying in Rome, the father-of-five and grandfather-of-four is now thousands of miles away from Rome.
While now working at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C. as an adviser to President Trump, Mario remains in touch with many of his former Swiss Guard colleagues.
Earlier this week, when the news of Pope Francis’ death sent waves of sorrow across the globe, Mario reflected on the immediate effects it had on the Vatican.
‘It’s crazy because everything is up in the air. You have to understand that when the Pope dies, everyone loses their job, and the chair is now vacant.
‘And now everyone is running around because of the funeral and the preparations which need to be made for it.’
As the final preparations for the funeral unfold and cardinals descend on the 121 acres of land to prepare for the conclave, one question weighs heavily on everyone’s mind: who will succeed Francis, the ‘Pope of the People,’ as Mario described him?
Mario said the responsibility now lies with the cardinals, who, in the coming days, will reflect deeply on the future direction of the Church
Mario said: ‘The decision is on them. They must listen to the voice of the Lord and decide which way the Church should go. I don’t know who it could be’
As the final preparations for the funeral unfold and cardinals descend on the 121 acres of land to prepare for the conclave, one question weighs heavily on everyone’s mind: who will succeed Francis, the ‘Pope of the People,’ as Mario described him?
Mario said the responsibility now lies with the cardinals, who, in the coming days, will reflect deeply on the future direction of the Church.
‘The decision is on them. They must listen to the voice of the Lord and decide which way the Church should go. I don’t know who it could be.
‘There is a lot of conversations about the possibilities of being this person or that person but no one really knows.’
When asked if the Church is ready for the election of the first Asian or Black Pope, Mario pauses for a moment, his gaze thoughtful.
The direct answer is I don’t know,’ he admits. ‘My gut says we might be ready, but not fully. There could be another Pope before that time comes. I could be wrong.’
He then shifts the conversation to the modern dynamics influencing the process, pointing out that the rise of social media adds a new layer of complexity to the conclave.
‘This conclave is different from any other,’ Mario says. ‘It’s crazy now because of the overwhelming influence from social media and the media.’
Despite these modern challenges, Mario urges the cardinals to remain focused as they head into the Sistine Chapel to choose Francis’ successor.
‘What I am urging the cardinals, whom I know and speak to, is to concentrate on the task at hand: to silence any interfering voices and simply listen to the voice of the Lord.
‘Spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and ask, “Where do we want the Church to go?”‘
As the Church prepares for a pivotal moment in its history, Mario’s reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the weight of responsibility resting on the cardinals’ shoulders—and the deep faith that must guide their decision.
As many of his previous colleagues still serving as guards, he will be looking to them to make the decision of their next Shepherd who will guide them into, what many will say, is a world looking for a leader, a light and hope.
