The blacksmith brothers who suit up the pope's Swiss Guard
These highly skilled Austrian artisans are ever-so-carefully replacing the guard's 500-year-old armor
Swiss guards stand at attention before the start of the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 27, 2016
(REUTERS/Max Rossi)The Pontifical Swiss Guards are unique in many ways — they are relatively small (just 110 soldiers) and the selection process is one of the most rigorous — but their iconic
Johann Schmidberger works on a suit of armor for the Vatican's Swiss Guards at his workshop in Molln, Austria
(REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)The Vatican ordered 80 breast harnesses, which would gradually replace the ancient collection. Each harness takes roughly 120 hours to weld and fashion and, besides b
(REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger)
New Vatican Swiss guards adjust their uniforms prior to a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican on May 6, 2016.
(REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)
(REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi)
