Canton of Geneva does not pay for new Swiss Guard barracks
Published: Thursday, Feb 1st 2024, 21:50
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The canton of Geneva will not participate in the financing of the new Swiss Guard barracks in the Vatican. On Thursday, the cantonal parliament rejected a financial contribution to the project by 50 votes to 43 for reasons of separation between religion and the state.
A bill proposed by the SVP demanded that the foundation be granted a subsidy of 500,000 francs for the renovation of the barracks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. A reduced contribution of CHF 50,000 or 10 centimes per inhabitant from the SVP also failed to pass.
Green Pierre Eckert, spokesman for the majority, referred to a legal opinion commissioned from the canton, according to which the religious neutrality of the canton of Geneva does not permit such a subsidy. "Even if it does not house clergy, this building is intended for a police force in the service of a religious authority."
Finance Minister Nathalie Fontanet was also against a financial contribution from the canton of Geneva. The request violated the law on secularism.
SVP spokesman Patrick Lussi, on the other hand, said that the building only housed offices and apartments for the guards and emphasized that the institution was "Switzerland's calling card in the world".
50 million building planned
The Swiss Guard in the Vatican is to receive new barracks. However, the new building, which is expected to cost around 50 million francs, is not being built by the Papal States, but by a private Swiss foundation. The Vatican is making a financial contribution to the project, as are the Swiss Confederation and various cantons. In December, it was announced that 48.5 million had already been covered by donations. Construction is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2026.
The Swiss Guard has been responsible for protecting the Pope and his residence since 1506. It is best known for the fact that the guardsmen (there are no female guardsmen) still wear Renaissance-style uniforms and hold a halberd in their hands as a representative weapon.
©Keystone/SDA
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