The Pope receives Viola Amherd – Swiss Catholic Portal

On May 4, 2024, Pope Francis received Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, at the Vatican. In addition to the Swiss Guard, global conflicts and international humanitarian law were discussed.

The Pope received the President of the Confederation for 25 minutes in the library of the Apostolic Palace, reports Vatican News. The Valais federal councilor wrote on X that she had spoken with the pontiff about the civil war in Sudan as well as the common commitment to international humanitarian law and against the death penalty.

Viola Amherd then met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, accompanied by Mgr Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. Both parties welcomed the good relations and collaboration that exist between the Holy See and the Swiss Confederation, particularly with regard to the renovation project of the barracks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. A foundation specially created for this purpose is responsible for raising funds for the project. The Vatican, the Confederation and several Swiss cantons also make their contribution. The financing has not yet been definitively completed and the start of work is planned for 2026.

Chocolate and tango

Vatican diplomats and the President of the Confederation discussed a number of international issues, in particular the conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land. They questioned the commitment necessary to promote peace, in the search for a diplomatic solution which could lead as quickly as possible to the cessation of hostilities, indicated the Holy See.

During the traditional exchange of gifts, the Pope offered the Swiss representative a bronze bas-relief entitled Care of Creationpontifical volumes, this year’s message for peace, as well as the book on the Statio Orbis of March 27, 2020 published by the LEV (Vatican Publishing Library).

Viola Amherd offered the pontiff Swiss chocolates, some stamps from the year of the pope’s birth (1936) as well as a CD by Carlos Gardel, the great Argentine tango singer. The pope also gave the Valaisan a jug with glasses reproducing the Matterhorn.

The President of the Confederation will attend the swearing-in of 34 new Swiss Guards at the Vatican on May 6. (cath.ch/vaticanews/cic/rz)