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Iraq
Holy See condemns killing of Mosul archbishop, mobilizes Swiss Guard
2008-03-14
Well, no, the Pope is not mobilizing the Swiss Guard. But I kinda wish he would, just to make a point.
Pope Benedict XVI condemned Thursday the killing of kidnapped Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho in Iraq as "unjustifiable violence targeting coexistence among Iraqis." Rahho, the archbishop of Mosul, some 390 km north of Baghdad, was abducted on February 28 after gunmen attacked his car and killed his driver and two bodyguards. His body was found dead half-buried in Mosul Thursday, police said.

"This is an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being," Spokesman of the Vatican Church Rev. Federico Lombardi quoted the pope as saying in a letter to leaders of Iraqi churches. "The most absurd and unjustified violence continues to strike the Iraqi people and particularly the small Christian community. "Pope Benedict XVI is praying that sorrowful incident would prompt the Iraqis to restore peace to their country.

"Our hope is that this tragic event will underscore and reinforce everybody's commitment and particularly that of the international community to bring peace to this troubled country," he added.

The Chaldean Church, an affiliate of the Roman Catholic Church, represents the biggest Christian community in Iraq who practice ancient Eastern rites. It descends from the Church of the East in mid the 16th century.
Rest in God's grace, Archbishop. You deserved better.
Posted by:Seafarious

#10  I made a special trip to Lucerne when I was stationed in Heidelberg to see the Lion.

You have no place in humanity if you do not choke up looking at the sculpture.

The only place that has moved me more was my first trip to Dachau.
Posted by: Grand Proconsul Sock Puppet   2008-03-14 21:31  

#9  There are two Vatican security units:

1) The Swiss Guards
2) Vatican Gendarmerie

IIRC, the Vatican can also call upon Italian military-paramilitary support in an emergency.

Earlier this month, the security arrangements at the Vatican made the newspapers, as reported in the Washington Times
Posted by: mrp   2008-03-14 17:25  

#8  Magnificent sculpture - larger than it looks here: The Lion of Lucerne. What is hard to see in that picture is an arrow/bolt into the chest of the lion. A little tidbit missing from the link is 'although they had a chance to flee the violence being mercenaries, but chose to stay and fight according to their honor.'

And those guys at the Vatican can look right through you...had to double check to make sure I didn't have shorts on (dress code requirement).
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-03-14 12:52  

#7  The compulsory two-year service in the Swiss Guards is too short for an exhaustive basic training to be acquired. This is why Guards must already be in possession of the military skills which they can acquire in the Swiss Army. We use the same military language as the Swiss Army and we share its concept of discipline.

And they do have and use the Swiss Army's assault rifle.



So don't let the showcase uniforms fool you. Cream of the crop of the Swiss Army for generations.

Just very few in numbers. And sadly, too few to deploy as safety for the Clergy other than the Pope.
Posted by: OldSpook   2008-03-14 11:43  

#6  "The Pope? How many divisions does he have?"
-- Napoleon Buonaparte
Posted by: Chief Running Gag   2008-03-14 11:27  

#5  Blackwater guards would look nifty in silver helmets with red crests.

So, for that matter, would former Israeli commandos.
Posted by: Seafarious   2008-03-14 10:30  

#4  Or perhaps hire Blackwater. ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-03-14 09:27  

#3  Openly appoint a replacement, and give him a number of Swiss Guards as a bodyguard and mark of the popes personal concern.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-03-14 09:27  

#2  Great... I hope that B-XVI (B-16, get it?? Sorry...)
has the good sense to appoint a 'secret-archbishop.
They do (or did it) for Chinese Catholics. Why not for the Chaldeans?
Posted by: Free Radical   2008-03-14 03:22  

#1  "This is an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being,"

I think he's stumbled on to the definition of Muslim.
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-03-14 02:25  

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