Eleven Swiss Guards infected with coronavirus, underlining concerns for Pope Francis

Swiss Guards during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican earlier this month

Credit: AP

Eleven soldiers in the Swiss Guard have become infected with the coronavirus, prompting concerns for the health of Pope Francis.

Four cases were reported among the Pope’s personal protection corps earlier this week, but another seven cases have now come to light, raising the total to 11.

Given that there are around 110 officers and men in the Swiss Guard, that means that roughly 10 per cent of the world’s smallest army is now infected with Covid-19.

Vatican authorities are trying to establish who the soldiers have come into contact with.

A Swiss Guard wearing a face mask stands ready during Pope Francis' weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on October 14, 2020

Credit: AFP

At audiences and other official events, the Pope is frequently flanked by the Guards, who wear flamboyant, striped uniforms and plumed helmets.

The Pope has been criticised in recent weeks for not wearing a mask when he meets large crowds in St Peter’s Square.

He has ignored social distancing rules and has kissed the hands of many people he met, including newly-ordained priests.

There are acute concerns about his vulnerability to the virus, given that he is 83 years old, is overweight and lost part of one lung to illness in his youth in Argentina.

“Many Vatican employees are horrified by the Pope’s behaviour. And so should anyone else who actually cares for this man – and the people with whom he comes in contact each day,” wrote Robert Mickens, a Vatican expert based in Rome and the editor of La Croix International, a Catholic news website.

The Pope has been criticised for not wearing a face mask in big crowds at the Vatican 

Credit: AFP

Francis took note of the criticism this week and promised to do better at staying away from the faithful in order to protect their health as well as his own.

At his weekly audience on Wednesday, he acknowledged the importance of keeping a safe distance.

"Forgive me if I greet you from a distance," the Pope, standing on a stage, told the crowd.

"I would like, as I usually do, to come close to you and greet you, but… it is better to keep your distance.

"I believe that if all of us, as good citizens, respect the prescriptions of the authorities, it will help to put an end to this pandemic."

Concern for the Argentinian pontiff comes amid sharply rising daily cases in Italy, with a record 8,800 new infections reported on Thursday.

Since the virus was first detected in Italy at the end of February, it has killed more than 36,000 people. The increase in daily cases has been sharp in Lazio, the region that includes Rome.

Swiss mercenaries began serving the Papal States in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1505 a Swiss bishop suggested the creation of a permanent Swiss force under the control of the Pope.

The first contingent of Swiss Guards arrived at the Vatican in 1506. Recruits must be unmarried Roman Catholics who have Swiss citizenship, aged between 19 and 30.