Ahead Of The 2025 Holy Year, The Vatican Will Be President Of 25 New Guards For The Pope

Illustration of the Swiss Guard Vatican. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - The Vatican opened a new recruitment for the Swiss Guard, along with the development of the world's smallest organization and army needs.

Being an elite troop in colorful clothes whose main mission is to protect the Pope and the Vatican City covering an 108 hectares, the Swiss Guard currently only has 110 members.

Towards the Holy Year of 2025, when millions of pilgrims are expected to visit the Vatican, the power will increase by 25 members to 135 members, an increase of almost 23 percent.

To assist with recruitment, Swiss Guard has opened media offices and new contact points in Switzerland, according to a statement released by Guard on Thursday.

It will also coordinate the recruitment office work in Switzerland, a foundation linked to the Swiss Guard, and a former member.

Open registration for single Swiss men between the ages of 19-31 who practice Catholicism in good health, with "perfect reputation and a height of at least 1.74 meters (5 feet, seven inches), and have completed basic training in the Swiss army," according to the website guard.

It is known that they can get married after serving for five years.

The force, whose main mission is to protect whales, exclusively male since its founding in 1506. But that can change.

Their new barracks in the Vatican, whose construction work is expected to begin in 2026, will be built taking into account the joining of women as members if Pope Francis or his successor permits.

The barracks used are now known to be 150 years old. The renovation project will include a single room with a private bathroom.

A Swiss foundation has amassed more than 37 million Swiss francs out of an estimated 45 million Swiss francs needed for this renovation.

Previously, Pope Francis had appointed women to a number of senior positions and management positions in the administration of the Vatican.

In March, the Pope introduced an important new constitution that would allow any bastioned Catholics, including women, to lead most of the Vatican's department.