Martin Candinas becomes president of the Foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard – Swiss Catholic Portal

The Foundation Council of the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican elected Grison Candinas National Councilor as new president. He will take office on July 1, 2025.

As the foundation indicates in a press release, the former federal councilor Ruth Metzler-Arnold, president since 2018, will withdraw on June 30, 2025.

Martin Candinas has been a member of the National Council since 2011. He chaired it in 2022/23. As part of this function, he visited the Swiss guard in Rome and has already made contacts. “It is with admiration and considers for this institution that I am particularly honored to assume the presidency. It is with joy, humility and great respect that I assume this function, ”he said.

“The guard represents values ​​that are personally very expensive to me, has noted the outgoing president Ruth Metzler-Arnold. It is a symbol of our Swiss identity. “

The Foundation for the Pontifical Swiss Guard at the Vatican was created in 2000 in order to support the Swiss guard financial, material and social. Thanks to donations from individuals and foundations, she funded in 2024 various projects in favor of the Pontifical Swiss Guard for an amount of around 730,000 francs. This organization is distinct from the Foundation for the renovation of the Swiss Guard barracks (FRCGS) created in 2016 in order to develop and finance the reconstruction project which should start in 2026.