MARILYN CORNWELL: July 29 2022 - The Pope's Security Men in Black Suits

The picture of the Pope in his white Jeep vehicle showed serious men in black suits at each corner of the car - likely body guards. I would assume that the security men around the popemobile come from the Vatican security. Who would that be? The Swiss Guard forms his security. They serve as personal escorts to the pontiff and as watchmen for Vatican City and the pontifical villa of Castel Gandolfo. There are 135 guards. They wear those colourful tourist-looking costumes at the Vatican.

But when I look at the pictures of the pope's visit, these "plainclothes men" are no longer dressed in plain clothes. They seem freakishly out of place to my mind. They look like Italian Mafia to me.

I found out that there are "seven people you meet in a papal entourage" - that's from the Washington Post article. That would be about 100 people in the pope's entourage Who are they?

1. Members of the papal household- pope's valet, butler/assistant, secretaries, phsycican and papal household prefect
2. Masters of ceremonies - a team that coordinates the liturgical events
3. Roman Curia - heads of various departments in the Vatican administration
4. Security team - that's it isn't it! - no number given
5. Communications team - no number given
6. The Vat Pack - press corps - 70 of them
7. One lucky Vatican staffer - plucks one layman or laywoman from the Vatican to join his entourage.

This is the article HERE.

What's a tree farm like? Full of white stakes and men whipper-snipping the Queen Anne's Lace.