Whenever His Holiness the Pope travels outside the Vatican, security is a fundamental concern and several entities are involved to guarantee the protection of the leader of the Catholic Church.
Rogério COPETO
Colonel of the GNR
Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
The Swiss Guard (Pontifical Swiss Guard) and to the Gendarmerie of the Vatican (Gendarmerie Corps) are the two institutions responsible for the protection and security of the Pope and the Vatican, being the same distinct and with different functions and characteristics.
The Swiss Guard founded in 1506, it is one of the oldest military forces still active in the world and has the responsibility of protecting the Pope and the Vatican, its members being recruited among young Swiss aged between 19 and 30 year old, completed military service, who, after undergoing rigorous training, are responsible for the security of the Pope and the Vatican buildings, as well as participating in official ceremonies, whose distinctive and colorful uniform, constitutes itself as one of the most recognized characteristics in the whole world.
The Vatican Gendarmerie is the Vatican's police force, being responsible for the internal security of the Vatican, whose attributions are the prevention and investigation of criminality, road safety and maintenance of public order. While the Swiss Guard is made up of military, the Gendarmerie is made up of civilians of different nationalities.
Both forces work together to ensure the safety and protection of the Pope., of visitors and Vatican buildings, with the Gendarmerie best known for playing a broader role in the internal security of the Vatican and the Swiss Guard for its ceremonial role and protection of the Pope within the Vatican, although it also helps with security during your trips abroad.
During trips abroad, the Pope's security involves a combined effort between the Swiss Guard, the Vatican Gendarmerie and the local security authorities of the country visited, advance planning and coordination between all these entities being fundamental to guarantee the safety of the Pope and the participants in the various public activities carried out during their visits.
When the Pope visits other countries, local police play a key role in your security, working closely with the Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie in coordinating and enforcing security measures.
Before any papal trip, there is extensive security planning, which includes identifying possible threats, safe pathways and the mobilization of necessary and sufficient resources to ensure adequate protection for the Pope during his public activities.
Crowd management is an essential concern during the Pope's travels, security institutions should work together to ensure that the places where public events will take place are controlled and safe.
Depending on the country and context, special security measures may be implemented, like security magazines, blocking roads and even restricting access to specific locations.
The Vatican's Swiss Guard and Gendarmerie play specific roles in the security of Pope Francis during his trips abroad., being the first responsible for direct personal security to the Pope, both abroad and in the Vatican, owed during your travels, accompany the Pope to public events, masses, audiences, official meetings and other activities, ensuring your safety at all times, as well as the protection of the Pope's residences and places of stay, ensuring the safety of the premises and surroundings.
The Vatican Gendarmerie must work closely with the local security authorities of the countries the Pope visits, ensuring efficient coordination for security in foreign territory, namely being responsible for guaranteeing the security of the perimeter of the places where public events take place with the presence of the Pope, as well as follow the movements of the crowds, in addition to being able to help with road safety and the logistical organization of events, in order to guarantee the safety and proper functioning of the planned activities
Local police in the countries visited by the Pope play an important role in ensuring security during his visit., whose responsibilities may vary according to established security protocols, local law and country-specific circumstances, often including crowd control, who gather to see and interact with the Pope during his public activities, ensuring public movement is organized and safe.
Local police are also responsible for helping to protect places where public events will take place with the presence of the Pope., like masses, hearings and official meetings, performing perimeter security and access control, by verifying the identification of participants, in places where this becomes necessary.
Local police authorities also work closely with the Swiss Guard and Vatican Gendarmerie to coordinate security efforts., in sharing information, ensuring a unified approach in executing the Pope's security mission.
The local police are also responsible for providing escorts and ensuring the safety of the routes used by the Pope in his travels between different places during the visit and depending on the threats and risks identified., local police may implement additional security measures, such as security checks at specific locations or restrictions on access to certain locations.
Responding to emergencies or incidents that may occur during the Pope's visit and taking appropriate measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all persons involved, is another area that local police must be prepared to deal with..
In short, in the Pope's security, the local police have a complementary and collaborative role in his security during his trips abroad, having to work together with the Swiss Guard and the Vatican Gendarmerie, helping to ensure that the Pope's activities are carried out in a safe environment, believing that the World Youth Day in Lisbon will be a success and will be an example to follow, with regard to the safety of the Pope and all his participants.
