A 720km trek from home ... to home

The Swiss Guards arrive from St Peter's Square after walking to the Vatican from the small Swiss town of Bellinzona.

VATICAN CITY - About 70 former Swiss Guards, the oldest a 76-year-old, ended an almost month-long trek to the Vatican from Switzerland yesterday that retraced the steps of the first papal protectors 500 years ago.

Pope Benedict praised the troops of the world's smallest Army for offering their lives to defend the Vatican City, the world's smallest state. Today's guards number about 110.

"With valiant generosity [the guards] have defended the Sovereign Pontiff to the death, writing an important page in Church's history with their sacrifice," the Pope told the men from his Vatican window.

With their medieval weapons, ceremonial armour and flamboyant Renaissance-style blue, gold and red striped uniforms, the guards seem to jump from a page in history and have also become a tourist attraction.

Greying veterans joined active troops at the ceremony to mark the end of the 720km trek from the Swiss town of Bellinzona to St Peter's Square.

This weekend, the Pope will celebrate a Mass remembering the 147 guards killed in the May 6, 1527 sacking of Rome. The surviving members saved the life of Pope Clement VII.

The Mass will be followed by a swearing-in ceremony for new guards, all Roman Catholics who come from the Swiss Army.

Pope Julius II, widely known as "The Warrior Pope", first sent for Swiss troops in the 16th century after striking an agreement with Swiss cantons for a permanent Army.

Many of the guards still carry the unit's trademark weapon - a halberd, which is a combination of spear and battle axe.

- REUTERS