Swearing-in ceremony of the 38 new members of the Swiss Guards in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican. (Garde Suisse; Schweizergardist ).Behind : The bronze sculpture by Pericle Fazzini entitled 'La Resurrezione' ( The Resurrection). (1975).During the ceremony; the new recruits raised three fingers and swore to uphold the Swiss Guard oath to protect Benedict and his successors 'and also dedicate myself to them with all my strength; sacrificing if necessary also my life to defend them.' The Swiss Guard; founded in 1506; consists of 100 volunteers who must be Swiss nationals; Catholic; single; at least 174 cm (5 feet 8 inches) tall and beardless. New recruits are sworn in every year on May 6; commemorating the date on which 147 Swiss soldiers died defending the Pope during an attack on Rome on May 6; 1527.Vatican; May 6; 2007.