Under the eyes of social media, Swiss Guards learn to handle threats with discretion

The pope’s personal security, the Pontifical Swiss Guard, has lengthened its training for new recruits amid increased concerns over optics in an age when everything can be filmed by anyone with a cellphone.

“For us it is very important to realize that the world is watching us,” Sergeant Major Marco Radovinovic, a guard for 12 years, told EWTN News.

He said training for guards of the world’s smallest and oldest active military force focuses on quickly stopping potentially dangerous people without “being brutal or over the top.”

The Swiss Guard “are the first line of defense of the Vatican State,” Radovinovic recalled, noting that even a seemingly normal interaction with someone can suddenly become “physical without any warning.”

The Monadnock Defensive Tactical System learned by Swiss Guards is based on different forms of martial arts and adapted for modern security needs. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Pontifical Swiss Guard

He emphasized the importance of good training on how to handle a wide array of situations in an appropriate manner.

“Being discreet is also a means to protect the guard himself, not only [in] … the physical fight, but also for the people…