A Vatican spokesman instructed AFP the guard had “likely suffered a drop in blood pressure”.

Vatican City, Holy See:

A Swiss Guard fainted throughout Pope Francis’ weekly viewers Wednesday, hitting the ground with a clang whereas nonetheless clutching his halberd, as a involved pontiff seemed on.

The younger man, a member of the colorful armed physique tasked with defending the pope, toppled over whereas a non secular textual content was being learn out, an AFP photographer stated.

He will be seen in images mendacity face down in his distinctive purple, yellow and blue striped outfit, along with his plumed helmet, sporting its purple feather, nonetheless in place.

The man, wanting pale, was pulled up virtually instantly to standing, and helped to stroll out of the Paul VI auditorium.

At the top of the viewers, the 85-year-old pope broke out of his routine to talk with a plainclothes Swiss Guard.

A Vatican spokesman instructed AFP the guard had “likely suffered a drop in blood pressure”.

The tiny metropolis state has been struggling a heatwave, with temperatures forecast to hit 36 levels Celsius (97 levels Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.

The Swiss Guards represent the world’s smallest military, numbering 135 in complete, and their members should be practising Roman Catholics, Swiss residents, aged between 19 and 30, and measure at the least 1.47 metres (4 ft and 10 inches) in top. They should even be single, though they will marry later.

They decide to safeguarding the pope for at the least 26 months.

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