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To mark the hundredth anniversary of the Palatine Guard of Honor of His Holiness, a set of three commemoratives was released on September 12, 1950. The Palatine Guards were established on December 14, 1850, by Pope Pius IX from two previously existing bodies of militia. Ordinarily their duties consist of standing guard at Papal processions and solemn functions. Unlike the Swiss Guards, they are not full-time professional soldiers, and receive no money for their services other than a small allowance for their uniforms. The uniforms consist of a high military hat known as a shako, which falls over the nape of the neck, with a slender red plume in the front. The trousers are dark blue, worn with tunics trimmed in crimson and gold. The sword belts, rifle straps, and cartridge cases are all in white. The weapons of the Palatine Guard are old model rifles and daggers of nickel. During the German occupation of Rome, these part-time guards were summoned to full-time duty. Small detachments were placed in all the buildings under the jurisdiction of Vatican City throughout Greater Rome. In the Vatican proper, a company of more than 150 Palatine Guards were stationed. All through the occupation the guards faithfully carried out their task of protecting the properties of the Holy See. Even when the bombs fell on the Vatican on November 5, 1943, the two guards stationed near the damaged area refused to leave their post. With the end of the war the Palatine Guards of Honor of His Holiness once again returned to part-time duty. |
| (National Philatelic Museum, Volume VII, Number 1, 1954, pages 61-107) We are greatful to the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum for allowing the Vatican Philatelic Society to use the copyrighted text on our website. |
