Swiss Guard Helmet
Donation protected
The Pope’s Swiss Guards wear silver morion helmets with red ostrich feathers for high ceremonial occasions such as the annual swearing-in ceremony, reception of foreign heads of state, Easter, Christmas and other special occasions in the Vatican and the Swiss Guard.
Only officers receive made-to-measure helmets. When my husband wears the helmet that he is allocated, it never fits his head properly. It slips down while he is walking and even standing still. When he wears it, he may be in sentinel position for hours at a time. In this position he cannot move to reposition it.
The helmets are no longer able to be produced by the blacksmiths who spent up to 130 hours producing each one in the past. We think it is vital to capture the artisan tradition of metal-working while it still exists. For the last decade, the Swiss Guard body armor has been made by a family of blacksmiths in upper Austria, following their family tradition since the 18th century. If this project goes ahead, the family will produce the first helmet of this kind in the traditional style of the Swiss Guard with the family crest of their founder, Pope Julius II. Dominic proposes to inscribe this phrase inside the helmet “Transit dolor, manet honor” (pain is temporary but honor remains). It seems fitting for not only the time when he wears the full gala uniform and armor, but even more pertinent for his 15 years of service to the Holy Father and Catholic Church. Thank you for your support and prayers! The Austrian family will personally deliver the helmet to the Vatican in April so it is here in time to wear at the annual swearing-in ceremony on May 6, 2020.
Only officers receive made-to-measure helmets. When my husband wears the helmet that he is allocated, it never fits his head properly. It slips down while he is walking and even standing still. When he wears it, he may be in sentinel position for hours at a time. In this position he cannot move to reposition it.
The helmets are no longer able to be produced by the blacksmiths who spent up to 130 hours producing each one in the past. We think it is vital to capture the artisan tradition of metal-working while it still exists. For the last decade, the Swiss Guard body armor has been made by a family of blacksmiths in upper Austria, following their family tradition since the 18th century. If this project goes ahead, the family will produce the first helmet of this kind in the traditional style of the Swiss Guard with the family crest of their founder, Pope Julius II. Dominic proposes to inscribe this phrase inside the helmet “Transit dolor, manet honor” (pain is temporary but honor remains). It seems fitting for not only the time when he wears the full gala uniform and armor, but even more pertinent for his 15 years of service to the Holy Father and Catholic Church. Thank you for your support and prayers! The Austrian family will personally deliver the helmet to the Vatican in April so it is here in time to wear at the annual swearing-in ceremony on May 6, 2020.
Fundraising team (2)
Joanne Bergamin
Organizer
Roma, LZ, Italy
John Zuhlsdorf
Team member
