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Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
A new suit of armor being made for the Vatican Swiss Guard is seen on Jan. 21, 2013 at the Schmiede Schmidberger workshop in Molln, Austria.
Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters, file
Swiss Guards stand before Pope Benedict XVI makes an address from a balcony in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City on Dec. 25, 2012.
The Vatican has contracted a family of blacksmiths in an Austrian village to manufacture 80 new sets of armor in a project that will take seven years to complete.
Most of the existing armor worn by the Vatican's Swiss Guard dates back at least 100 years when people were generally smaller than they are today, so the existing armor does not always fit today's bulkier guards.
The firm of blacksmiths, Schmiede Schmidberger, is a family-run operation that has been in existence since the year 1350.
-- Getty Images
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Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
Blacksmith Georg Schmidberger crafts a piece of metal that will become part of a suit of armor.
Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
The design for a new suit of armor.
Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
Tools in the Schmiede Schmidberger workshop.
Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
An exterior view of the workshop.
Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
Johann Schmidberger Senior works on the Swiss Guard armor.
Mathias Kniepeiss / Getty Images
Schmiede Schmidberger is a family-run operation that has been in existence since the year 1350.
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So, is the pope paying for this expensive upgrade out of his own pocket, or is this decorative band of guards being paid for by the Catholics of the world with their tithes? Wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of money for a bunch of useless, decorative suits of armor (on cute boys) to have prancing around your own sovereign 'nation' without having to tell the parishioners they will be required to send more money? The pope should be ashamed, but I guess this is another way to launder the money from the drug deals in South America.
You show your ignorance. The Swiss guard has always provided security for the pope. The armor to which you refer is merely for "show". The Swiss guard is as modern, and as well trained and equipped as any American unit.
I think that it is amazing that this blacksmith shop has been in operation by the same family since 1350. In this day and age I am surprised there is enough business to keep a place like this going. There is not too much call for old fashioned blacksmith services these days.
JS in SD, I too am amazed, and wonder if the contract with the Vatican goes back that far too.
Depends on the type of blacksmith. Farriers are more common, but weapon/armorsmiths are still in demand too.
Anyone else see the irony in this? First, that they have a problem as we humans "evolved" over time to be bigger.
The second is the pope needing an army. Is that because in the immortal words of Darth Vader " I find his lack of faith, disturbing". Why is it if you believe you are gods right hand man, would you need an army to back you up?
Lastly, is that there is a blacksmith around that still knows how to make armor.
No doubt we will have all the Catholic Priest haters out there hollering about the shameful cover ups of pedophilia events in the Churches past and maybe even present events happening. How about they holler about all the shameful Muslim pedophilia practices that is so widespread in Muslim dominated countries that it would be difficult to print all the incidents of this shameful practices. None year old child brides who are raped. Lets not forget the dancing boys in Afghanistan. Then you have verses in the Quran that talk about young boys being pearls. The dirty little secrets are beginning to come out about Islam sanctioning using boys for sex or sexually using wives in any way a husband wishes Now lets turn our eyes to the US Mexican border where whole camps have been set up for pedophiles to cross the border to have sex with children. Or maybe the active sex slave trade in Europe which uses underage girls and children. For the love of decency take an honest look this crap is all over the world.
Cool!
Cool!
oh will everyone chill... they need no protection from pedophiles since they are grown males well trained in combat - "don't touch this" (imagine me mc hammer dancing), the armor is useful (bullet proof vest) and relatively pretty (the guards are also a tourist attraction) and the popes' hordes spend much more on myrrh and other stuff nobody needs. If these things are o.k. for another 100 years it seems like a bargain..
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wow, a family blacksmith that's been running since 1350
What a wast of money. The money could be used to feed the hungry. Soon this abomination will no longer exist.
wast? Is that even a word?
Perhaps whatever entity paid for your education should request a refund.
I think the term you are looking for is "waste" not "wast".
What a waste of money. The money could help feed the hungry. Soon this abomination of a church will not exist.
Quite frankly, I believe that carbon fiber would have filled the bill, just fine. Lighter, probably more protective, and could be made to look just like the real steel.
Waste of money. The money could be used to feed the hungry. Soon this abomination of a church will no longer exist. The fall will be great.
The Cathloc Church is the worlds richest entity. They can afford a few decorative touches. Stop complaining
incredible photos. the workshop looks amazing.
Very cool.