Pope Francis (pape Francois; papst Franziskus) attends a meeting with the 32 new Swiss Guards ahead of the swearing-in ceremony; in the Clementine hall (Sala Clementina; salle Clementine) at the Vatican on May 4; 2015. (Garde Suisse; Schweizergardist ).The swearing-in ceremony is held each May 6 to commemorate the 147 Swiss Guards who died protecting Pope Clement VII during the 1527 Sack of Rome. Then each new recruit grasped the corps' flag and; raising three fingers in a symbol of the Holy Trinity; swore to uphold the Swiss Guard oath to protect pope Francis and his successors. The Swiss Guard; founded in 1506; consists of 100 volunteers who must be Swiss nationals; Catholic; single; at least 174 cm tall and beardless.