Thirty-one new recruits have been sworn in as members of the Swiss Guard, the elite corp that has protected the Vatican since 1505.

The swearing in ceremony takes place on 6 May each year, commemorating the day in 1527 when 147 guards died protecting Pope Clement VII as Rome was sacked.

All members of the corp are Swiss and Roman Catholic and they serve for a period of at least two years.

According to tradition the striped Renaissance uniforms the guards wear were designed by Michelangelo.

The guards swear allegiance to the Pope - this year recruits took oaths in all of Switzerland's official languages - German, French, Italian and Rumansch.