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.”
The alleged victims were part of an international Jewish delegation attending the papal audience. One of them, Israeli writer and theatre director Michal Govrin, said that as she and a colleague approached the Square, “a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard visibly hissed at us, ‘les juifs,’ the Jews,” and then “made a gesture of spitting in our direction with obvious contempt.” The claim was first reported by La Repubblica.
The audience coincided with the Pope’s reaffirmation of Catholic-Jewish relations. Addressing thousands in the Square, he said, “The Church does not tolerate anti-Semitism and fights it, for the sake of the Gospel itself.” His remarks drew prolonged applause from the assembled crowd.
Reports of hostility towards clergy in the Holy Land have also attracted attention in recent months. In Jerusalem, Abbot Nikodemus Schnabel was filmed being spat at by young Jewish extremists after greeting them with the word “shalom.” He later commented that the footage showed “a part of the reality of my life that’s rarely filmed… Let’s pray for peace and reconciliation.”
Founded in 1506 under Pope Julius II, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is one of the world’s oldest military corps, charged with protecting the Pope and the Apostolic Palace.
The force is celebrated for its discipline and oath of loyalty. Any verified breach of conduct, Vatican officials indicated, would be treated with the utmost seriousness.
The alleged incident, taking place on the very day Nostra Aetate was commemorated, has caused dismay among those who support Catholic-Jewish dialogue, a relationship that the Second Vatican Council sought to renew after centuries of suspicion and the tragedy of the Second World War.
(Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
