The former Federal Councilor Ruth Metzler-Arnold, born on 23 May 1964, lic.iur.utr. of the University of Fribourg (CH) and a chartered accountant, was elected to the Federal Council on 11 March 1999 and was Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police until the end of 2003, and Vice-President of the Federal Council in 2003. She previously served as an auditor at PWC and in 1996 became the first woman to be elected to the cantonal government of the canton of Appenzell I.Rh., where she headed the Finance Department until her election to the Federal Council. After her time in the Federal Council, she held leading positions at Novartis until she founded her own consulting firm at the end of 2010. Today, she serves as Chairman and member of several Boards of Directors as well as supervisory, foundation and advisory boards.
Since July 1, 2018, she chairs the Foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the Vatican. Ruth Metzler grew up in Willisau LU and lives with her husband in Appenzell I.Rh..
Ruth Metzler-Arnold, former Federal Councilor, talks about her first months as President of the Board of Trustees of the Pontifical Swiss Guard and about the many tasks ahead.
On 1 July 2018 I was elected to the Board of the Foundation for the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the Vatican and assumed the chairmanship. A few months have passed since then; I have been able to gain many new experiences and discover some unknown facts. I am immensely impressed:
Impressed by the discipline, competence and dedication of the Guardsmen and their superiors, who perform a very demanding task in the service of the Holy Father;
But above all I am impressed and grateful by the numerous small and large supporters whose donations provide the Foundation with the financial means to support the Pontifical Swiss Guard in many different ways.
I am also grateful to the members of the Board of the Foundation, who are committed to their hard and unpaid work and their generous financial support.
In many respects, the Foundation serves as an important liaison between the guard in the Vatican and the homeland of the guardsmen. The administration of the Vatican State is largely bearing the costs of the Guard. However, the remuneration framework lies within the bandwidths of the Italian labor market. The guardsmen and cadres are temporarily in the service of the Holy Father. They, and their families, will return to Switzerland at some time in the future. Their children must therefore be given the opportunity to attend an international school that will make it easier for them to join the Swiss education system at a later date. Parents are reliant on funding their old-age provision during their service to the Holy Father in order to avoid contribution gaps as far as possible and to continue and secure their old-age provision appropriately after their return to Switzerland. The Foundation wants to support them in this. Another field arises from the training and continuing education requirements. The vigilance and protection duties at the Vatican require good knowledge of the Italian language, the formal and informal manners of the Holy See, and knowledge of historical and cultural contexts. The Guard must be given the opportunity to acquire these qualities. The Foundation should be able to provide the necessary financial resources. Another priority for the Foundation is to support the Swiss Guard in recruiting young guardsmen.
It is my great concern that we can strengthen and expand the circle of friends of the Swiss Guard in order to support these manifold tasks for the benefit of the Guardsmen and their families. This is what I am committed to!
Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
I support the Pontifical Swiss Guard because I am proud of our guards who are remarkable ambassadors for our country and who establish an important link between our values, the tradition of the Guard and modern life.
Vice-President, Foundation board since 2019
Foundation board since 2019
I support the Swiss Guard so that in the future we can continue motivating young Swiss people to serve in the Vatican, which is steeped in tradition, and so that the Guard can make it easier for them to re-enter the employment market after their period of service.
Foundation board since 2019
The Swiss Guard embodies values such as reliability, commitment and loyalty. It combines tradition with a modern approach. I am very much looking forward to contributing to making this fascinating and exceptional story tangible.
The Chairman of the Swiss Bishops' Conference is by virtue of his office a member of the Board.
The Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the Vatican is an official member of the Board.
The Foundation for the Swiss Guard is an exceptional, indeed a unique institution. I am very honoured to help in increasing its visibility in the Frenchspeaking part of Switzerland, because it represents a calling card for the whole of Switzerland
I support the Swiss Guard because I value the cultural and professional progress that the Guards can make during their service - my goal is to facilitate their return to the world of work in Switzerland.
I support the Swiss Guard because it is a globally recognizable and authentic representation of Swiss values and has a unique history with the Holy Father. To see this tradition continued and developed in a modern environment is an extremely satisfying task for the Board of the Foundation.
Foundation board since 2019
I support the Swiss Guard, because every single Swiss Guard, should it be necessary, protects the Holy Father at the risk of his own life. Through his service, the Guardsman lives the fundamental values of our country and can therefore be a source of inspiration for the youth.
President of the association of former Swiss Guardians. Member of the foundation board since 2024.
I support the Swiss Guard because I want to help our young fellow citizens who commit themselves selflessly - even with the commitment of their own lives - to stand up for a noble cause that honors our country.
I support the Swiss Guard because our Holy Father can feel safe with his Guardsmen, and because the young men and their leaders deserve our recognition for their selfless service. That is why I am actively involved in the Foundation Board, in search of well-meaning supporters and donors.
Foundation Board since 2022
The commitment in the Pontifical Swiss Guard in the Vatican deserves not only respect and recognition but also support!
Secretary of the Foundation since 2019