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Guards on duty at Vatican when Pope Pius XII elected
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Guards on duty at Vatican when Pope Pius XII elected
Noble Guard on duty at the Vatican in Rome when Pope Pius XII was elected, 2 March 1939.
1939
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 23078778
© The John Barrett Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Attention Catholicism Chosen Duty Elected Election Guard Guards Noble Papal Pius Pope Vatican
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In this evocative black-and-white photograph, a Noble Guard stands dutifully at attention outside the Vatican Palace in Rome, Italy, on the historic day of Pope Pius XII's election on March 2, 1939. The image captures the solemnity and grandeur of the papal transition, as the Italian RC Church and the world awaited the arrival of the new Pope. The Noble Guard, dressed in their traditional uniforms, are a prominent feature of the papal ceremonial, representing the Swiss Guard, the oldest active military corps in the world, which has protected the popes since 1506. The guards' distinctive uniforms, with their red and yellow doublets, bear witness to their long and storied history. The photograph offers a glimpse into the past, transporting us back to the 1930s and the beginning of a new era in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, assumed the papacy following the death of Pope Pius XI. He would go on to lead the Church through World War II and the post-war period, a time of significant change and challenge. The photograph's composition, with the guard standing tall and the Vatican Palace looming in the background, emphasizes the importance of tradition and continuity amidst the shifting tides of history. The guard's unwavering attention and the stillness of the scene underscore the gravity of the moment, as the Catholic world turns its gaze to the new Pope and the future he will shape. This image, from The John Barrett Collection at Mary Evans Picture Library, offers a captivating glimpse into the past, providing a window into the pomp and circumstance of a papal election and the enduring role of the Noble Guard in the Vatican's rich history.
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