Pope Francis dismisses 'authoritarian' Swiss Guard commander

(BBC) Pope Francis is removing the commander of the Swiss Guards, with the pontiff reportedly unhappy at the officer's strict authoritarian style.

The news that Daniel Anrig would not be continuing as commander was published in the Vatican's daily newspaper.

He will leave the Vatican after Christmas at the end of an eight-year stint, and be replaced by his deputy.

Since his election Pope Francis has made efforts to reform the Church and make it more open.

The notice in the L'Osservatore Romano said: "The holy father has ordered that Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig end his term on 31 January, at the conclusion of the extension of his mandate."

Col Anrig's approach has riled colleagues, with one Swiss Guard telling Italian media "this is the end of a dictatorship", on news of his departure.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30320800


-- BBC 2014-12-04

Lots of changes, upsetting lots of people do hope he doesn't go the same way as Luciani.

Why, didn't Lucian end up going to heaven.. Do you want this one to go to Hell?

Why, didn't Lucian end up going to heaven.. Do you want this one to go to Hell?

Well apart from not believing in the concept of heaven and hell even if I did I don't think it would be for me to judge. My only point is that given these changes a lot of people are being upset so he had better bring the official taster back.

The notice in the L'Osservatore Romano said: "The holy father has ordered that Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig end his term on 31 January, at the conclusion of the extension of his mandate."

Col Anrig's approach has riled colleagues, with one Swiss Guard telling Italian media "this is the end of a dictatorship", on news of his departure.

No official reason has been given for the dismissal by the Vatican.

The newspaper reported he was leaving "at the conclusion of his mandate."

The rumor mill, supplemented by "One Swiss Guard," generated some speculative assumptions. Obviously some people are against any change to the status quo, no matter how trivial (and threats to their comfortable sinecures) and have a vested interest in blowing everything out of proportion.

The commander was appointed in 2008 for a five year contract. Contracts end. People move on. Appointments for staff at the Vatican certainly are at the Pope's pleasure. The BBC & Telegraph are gossip mills rather than objective reporters of the news. It's the Fox-News-ization that embroiders everything with an agenda-promoting bias.

The wording from some sources is a great deal less drama-inspiring.

Italian press reports said the pontiff wanted to see a less rigid military corp and one that was less obsessed by rules.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/03/pope-francis-removes-swiss-guard-chief

Edited December 4, 201411 yr by Suradit69

Off-topic post removed.