The history of the Vatican's Swiss Guard can be traced back to the 16th century. In 1512, Pope Julius II declared the troops "Defenders of the Church's Freedom." Since then, they have been stationed at the Vatican to protect each and every pope. Gianfranco Pannone’s documentary “The Smallest Army in the World" (L’esercito più piccolo del mondo) explores the training that goes into preparing the Swiss boys to become soldiers of the Vatican. Pannone begins in Switzerland where the journey commences for the young recruits. He continues inside Vatican City as they are trained and fitted for their famously colorful uniforms. The young men, who come from all walks of life, offer their thoughts on how the Catholic Church should change with the times in order to stay relevant and modern. There are tender moments in which we see Pope Francis greeting people and one scene in which he is just calmly walking by himself. Thanks to the Film Society of Lincoln Center, L...
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