A Swiss Guard is under internal investigation after allegedly making a contemptuous spitting gesture towards two Jewish women during a papal audience at the Vatican last week.
The incident occurred on 29 October at the Arch of the Bells entrance to St Peter’s Square as crowds gathered for a general audience marking the anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the 1965 declaration on the Church’s relations with non-Christian religions.
Corporal Eliah Cinotti, spokesman for the Pontifical Swiss Guard, confirmed to the Italian agency ANSA that “a contentious incident was reported at one of the guard stations and, as happens on these occasions, an internal investigation has been launched. This is standard procedure because the service must always be performed with the utmost professionalism.” He said the inquiry “remains confidential.”
