Commemorations will open in Switzerland in January and culminate at the Vatican in May 2027, on the anniversary of the battle in which 147 Guards died defending the pope.The Pontifical Swiss Guard has announced a year of commemorations in 2027 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Sack of Rome, the 1527 attack by imperial troops that remains the defining moment in the corps' history.On 6 May 1527, the Guard defended Pope Clement VII during the attack. A total of 147 Guards lost their lives, while 42 of their comrades escorted the pontiff to safety at Castel Sant'Angelo. The new Guards' annual swearing-in ceremony is held on the same date each year in memory of the event. The commemorative year takes the theme "Values that endure: loyalty, reliability, professionalism and solidarity", Vatican News reports. Colonel Christoph Graf, the Guard's commander, said the year would recall the sacrifice and loyalty of earlier Guards while showing that the same values shape their mission today. He described it as "a year of dignified remembrance, encounter and gratitude".   The programme 23 January: A conference of historians in Brig, Switzerland, will open the commemorations. A publication will also be released examining the political, military and religious circumstances of the sack and its consequences, including "questions of remembrance, responsibility and myth". 16-19 April: The Guard will take part in Zurich's Sechseläuten spring festival at the invitation of the city's guilds. The appearance highlights the link between Zurich and Kaspar Röist, the Zurich-born commander who led the Guard in 1527 and was killed in the sack. 5-7 May: The main celebrations will take place at the Vatican. They include Vespers and the unveiling of a new plaque honouring the fallen Guards, Mass in St Peter's Basilica, and the swearing-in of new recruits in St Peter's Square. A light-art projection by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter is also planned. 4 September: Former Guards will make their national pilgrimage to Einsiedeln, Switzerland, where the programme includes the world premiere of a film about the anniversary year and a further light projection. The Guard said the year also aims to deepen understanding of its present-day mission and encourage young Swiss men to serve at the Vatican. The Swiss Guard was founded by Pope Julius II in 1506, when the first 150 soldiers arrived in Rome. It is regarded as one of the world's oldest standing armies. Recruits must be Swiss, Catholic, male and unmarried. The full anniversary programme is available on the Guard's website. Photo credit: Angela Cini / Shutterstock.com

The Pontifical Swiss Guard has announced a year of commemorations in 2027 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Sack of Rome, the 1527 attack by imperial troops that remains the defining moment in the corps' history. On 6 May 1527, the Guard defended Pope Clement VII during the attack. A total of 147 Guards lost their lives, while 42 of their comrades escorted the pontiff to safety at Castel Sant'Angelo. The new Guards' annual swearing-in ceremony is held on the same date each year in memory of the event. The commemorative year takes the theme "Values that endure: loyalty, reliability, professionalism and solidarity", Vatican News reports. Colonel Christoph Graf, the Guard's commander, said the year would recall the sacrifice and loyalty of earlier Guards while showing that the same values shape their mission today. He described it as "a year of dignified remembrance, encounter and gratitude".   23 January: A conference of historians in Brig, Switzerland, will open the commemorations. A publication will also be released examining the political, military and religious circumstances of the sack and its consequences, including "questions of remembrance, responsibility and myth". 16-19 April: The Guard will take part in Zurich's Sechseläuten spring festival at the invitation of the city's guilds. The appearance highlights the link between Zurich and Kaspar Röist, the Zurich-born commander who led the Guard in 1527 and was killed in the sack. 5-7 May: The main celebrations will take place at the Vatican. They include Vespers and the unveiling of a new plaque honouring the fallen Guards, Mass in St Peter's Basilica, and the swearing-in of new recruits in St Peter's Square. A light-art projection by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter is also planned. 4 September: Former Guards will make their national pilgrimage to Einsiedeln, Switzerland, where the programme includes the world premiere of a film about the anniversary year and a further light projection. The Guard said the year also aims to deepen understanding of its present-day mission and encourage young Swiss men to serve at the Vatican. The Swiss Guard was founded by Pope Julius II in 1506, when the first 150 soldiers arrived in Rome. It is regarded as one of the world's oldest standing armies. Recruits must be Swiss, Catholic, male and unmarried. The full anniversary programme is available on the . Photo credit: Angela Cini / Shutterstock.com