The Vatican's Swiss Guard is investigating one of its members after two Jewish women alleged he made a spitting gesture towards them in St Peter's Square. The incident reportedly occurred on 29 October as people gathered for a general audience with Pope Leo, during which he condemned antisemitism.
Michal Govrin, an Israeli author and theatre director, told Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress that she and another woman were entering the square when a guard 'noticeably hissed at us with deep contempt, “les juifs” (the Jews)'. When challenged, she said he 'made an act of spitting in our direction with clear contempt'. The other woman was Vivian Liska, director of the Institute of Jewish Studies in Antwerp.
The women were part of a Jewish delegation attending the event marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate, a 1965 declaration on Catholic-Jewish relations. During the audience, Pope Leo said the church 'decries hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone'.
Cpl Eliah Cinotti, a Swiss Guard spokesperson, confirmed the guard had been placed under internal investigation 'as is standard procedure' to ensure 'the professionalism of the guards in service'. He said the alleged incident began when a person asked for a photo of the guard, adding: 'The Swiss Guard completely distances itself from any form of antisemitism.'
