The history of the Vatican's Swiss Guard can be traced back to the 16th century Renaissance when the soldiers were call upon due to their qualities of loyalty and courage. Pope Julius II declared the troops "Defenders of the Church's Freedom" in 1512. Since then, they have been stationed at the Vatican to protect each and every pope.

Gianfranco Pannone's documentary "The Smallest Army in the World" (L'esercito più piccolo del mondo) explores the training that goes into preparing the Swiss boys to become soldiers of the Vatican. Pannone takes his camera to Switzerland, where the journey begins for the young recruits, and then inside Vatican City as they are trained and fitted for their famously colorful uniforms.

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Source: http://www.italianamericanvoice.com/