Renovation of the barracks of the Swiss Guard

During the planning phase, the financing of the feasibility study and the preliminary project was secured jointly by the Vatican and the Foundation. The Foundation was supported by Swiss donors.

For the construction itself, a budget of CHF 50 million (5 million for the temporary accommodation of the Guard) is estimated. The donations for the financing are being sought by the Foundation in Switzerland and, with the help of the Vatican, abroad. Traditionally, real estate projects on Vatican City soil are financed by external donations.

The Vatican has undertaken to finance the temporary accommodation of the Guard during the construction period as well as a substantial proportion of the planning costs.

This represents an important part of the financing, which should not be underestimated. It is true that the Vatican has an enormous wealth of valuable cultural assets, churches and other assets. However, the preservation of these treasures costs huge amounts. The Vatican's current income is relatively modest (museums, post office, Vatican bank, donations) and its current expenses are high (nunciature network, Vatican administration, welcoming pilgrims and not least the Guard). Therefore, the Vatican City State is dependent on external funding. For this reason, real estate projects on Vatican City soil are traditionally financed by donations. It is a commendable task, including for us as Swiss people, to make a considerable contribution to the construction of the new barracks of the world-famous Swiss Guard. The Vatican’s contribution should be viewed in this light.

The complexity of the building comes at a price. The historical location of the buildings, the geological and archaeological peculiarities as well as the accommodation of the troops during the reconstruction works while at the same time guaranteeing the safety of the Pope and his residence make the renovation project extremely complex. According to initial estimates within the framework of the feasibility study, total costs (including provisional costs) are estimated at approximately CHF 50 million.

Anyone can contribute something to the funding! The Board of Trustees, soon to be supported by a Patronage Committee, is endeavoring to procure donations and legacies from private individuals as well as contributions from legal entities (companies and foundations), but also from the church and other organizations.

It must be said in advance that both Catholics and Protestants as well as other interested groups are being addressed. For more than 500 years, the Guard has stood for Swiss virtues: reliability, bravery, loyalty. Switzerland's reputation has benefited from the world-famous Papal Guard. Therefore, the renovation of the barracks and its financing is a matter for all Swiss people and not just for Catholics. The Board of Trustees and the Patronage Committee will try to contact as many donors as possible in person. At the same time, this website will also motivate donors to get involved in crowdfunding.

Everyone donates as much as he or she can and wants to give. Any amount is welcome!

Large donations can be made subject to counterperformance. At the end of the 'FAQs' ('Frequently Asked Questions'), you can ask us further questions and contact the Foundation. We will be happy to answer your questions and discuss with you how you can make a sub-project of the new building "your project".

The Foundation for the Renovation of the Barracks of the Papal Swiss Guard in the Vatican pursues a non-profit and a public purpose and is therefore tax-exempt. As a result, donations are deductible from taxable income in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Act on Direct Federal Tax and the cantonal tax laws in the donor's canton of residence.

Since the amount to be raised through donations is very high, the Foundation also needs particularly generous donors!

For example, it is possible to donate to special 'personal' sub-projects (such as the renovation of the fountain in Pigna Courtyard, the construction of the armory, the library, the music room, the kitchen, the gymnastics room or a guard’s bedroom). Please contact us by asking your question at the end of the 'FAQs'. We would be happy to discuss "Your personal project" with you.

Large and small companies are equally welcome as sponsors/donors. Cash donations will be the rule. However, companies in the construction supply industry may also consider making donations in kind or providing their products free of charge or at reduced prices. Service companies have also agreed not to charge the fee for their services as a donation to the project.

Many foundations have limited their charitable activities to a narrow purpose and/or a narrow geographical area. Foundations whose purpose is to support an institution important to Switzerland (the Swiss Guard) with a historically, culturally or structurally significant project in the Vatican are welcome as donors.

The Foundation has existed since 2016, along with a Board of Trustees that has created the statutes and ensures their observance. The Board of Trustees is composed of members with a wealth of experience in real estate projects, finance and cultural management. The Board of Trustees works on an honorary basis, without remuneration. It has appointed a Board of Management from its members. In addition, members of the Board of Trustees form a Building, a Finance and a Communications Committee, which will work closely with representatives of the Vatican City State. The Board of Trustees selected the architects for the feasibility study and the preliminary project and, together with representatives of the Vatican, commissioned the preliminary project. It oversees the secretariat, approves budgets and action plans as well as annual accounts and activity reports. It has elected EY (Ernst & Young), an auditor, to audit the annual financial statements and the internal control system.

The Board of Trustees has the overall responsibility. In order to implement the complex work of raising funds, it is about to set up a Patronage Committee consisting of well-known personalities from all parts of Switzerland. Together they will have an extensive network of contacts. As many donors as possible in Switzerland will be contacted through these diverse relationships.

Outside Switzerland, contributions are being sought with the support of the Vatican. It has its own donor network, which is invited to support the renewal project of the barracks.

The discussions about the renovation of the barracks were intensified in 2016. The requirements for contemporary barracks were clarified with the Guard. In 2017, the Board of Trustees selected architects for a feasibility study. This study showed that the needs of the Guard can be met in the available space and that a new building is necessary.

A preliminary project with detailed plans and precise cost estimates was prepared by 2019. On 2 October 2020, the Foundation presented the project to Pope Francis, who welcomed it warmly. On the same day, the project was officially handed over to Cardinal Parolin at the Secretariat of State. Close contact has been maintained since then.

The Board of Trustees has discussed with several internationally experienced architectural firms the possibility of working together to achieve the project objectives, the most important of which are the following:

• Need for more rooms (higher stock) and apartments for families
• Better, contemporary standard of the rooms
• Well-being, efficiency and safety of the Guard
• Integral repair of buildings
• Sustainability and environmental compatibility

It turned out that the architectural firm Durisch + Nolli Lugano best met the requirements. The Foundation commissioned the firm to prepare a feasibility study and, with the approval of the Vatican authorities, tocarry out the preliminary project.

Durisch + Nolli from Lugano convinced the Board of Trustees with their security concept (they have experience in the construction of the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, to name one example) and with the functionality of their proposed solutions (experience with functional buildings such as a student residence and a training center) as well as with the adaptation of their architecture to the historical environment (modern implementation with materials typical of Rome and the Vatican and architecture adapted to the neighboring buildings).

Pia Durisch and Aldo Nolli have extensive international experience from their time with the Spanish star architect Calatrava. Pia Durisch is also a member of the Swiss Federal Commission for Monument Conservation (EKD).

The Permanent Commission for the Protection of Historical and Artistic Monuments of the Holy See (commonly known as “Tutela”) is currently (as of October 2021) examining the project. It has to check every building project in the Vatican. UNESCO will then be consulted, as the Vatican is on their World Heritage List. Finally, the Italian authorities must also give the green light for a new external wall for the barracks, as this forms the national border with Italy.

The Barracks Foundation realised that it had underestimated the complicated and slow procedures in the Vatican. In particular, the innovative aspects of the project (such as the materials and technologies used, ecology, recycling, etc.), which the Vatican specialists are not very familiar with, require additional clarifications. In order to ensure that project is implemented according to plan, our Foundation is currently working on an agreement with the Vatican that will define the responsibilities of the parties and the corresponding project stages.

It was only in the autumn of 2020 that the Foundation was informed that the approval process would take more time and that operating the construction site on Italian soil in front of the barracks would pose a problem due to the crowds of pilgrims expected in Holy Year 2025.