Vatican investigates Swiss Guard after allegations of antisemitic incident

The Vatican has launched an probe into a imaginable antisemitic incidental involving a Swiss Guard

ROME -- The Vatican said Monday it was investigating a imaginable antisemitic incident, successful which a Swiss Guard allegedly made a spitting motion toward 2 Jewish women.

The alleged incidental occurred during a papal assemblage Oct. 29, astatine the entranceway to St. Peter’s Square. The assemblage that time was dedicated to marking the anniversary of a 1965 declaration connected the church’s relations with Jews and different non-Christians.

The alleged victims were portion of an planetary Jewish delegation attending the papal audience, during which Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed Catholic-Jewish relations and vowed to combat antisemitism.

One of the radical involved, Israeli writer and theatre manager Michal Govrin — concisely reached connected the telephone by The Associated Press — confirmed comments she made successful an interrogation with Austrian quality bureau Kathpress.

Govrin said successful that interrogation that -- arsenic she and a workfellow approached St. Peter’s Square -- a subordinate of the Pontifical Swiss Guard hissed “the Jews” astatine them and past made a spitting motion successful their direction.

“The Pontifical Swiss Guard has received a study regarding an incidental astatine 1 of the entrances to the Vatican City State, successful which elements interpreted arsenic having antisemitic connotations were detected,” said Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni, responding to reporters’ questions implicit the incident.

Bruni added that, according to a preliminary reconstruction, the occurrence indicated a disagreement had arisen implicit a petition to instrumentality photos astatine a defender post.

On that aforesaid day, addressing the audience, Pope Leo said “the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights it,” with his remarks drafting prolonged applause from the crowd.

Founded successful 1506, the Pontifical Swiss Guard is the world’s oldest lasting subject corps and is charged with protecting the Pope.

“The Pontifical Swiss Guard, successful keeping with its centuries-old contented of service, reaffirms its ongoing committedness to ensuring that its ngo is ever carried retired with respect for the dignity of each idiosyncratic and the cardinal principles of equality and non-discrimination,” Bruni said.

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