Pope's private security guard grew in faith through his job

Our take: Mario Enzler served as a member of the Swiss Guard for almost four years, working solely to provide security and protection to Pope John Paul II. During that time, Enzler says his faith grew as he saw the deep love for Christ that the Pope had in his own heart as well as the Pope's devotion to prayer and study. When invited to attend private mass and confession with the Pope, Enzler's faith solidified as he says he felt God's presence with him.

Few people have the opportunity to attend a Mass celebrated by the Pope. Far fewer have the privilege to do so in his private chapel at the Vatican.

Mario Enzler is one of those people. He spoke in Hartford on April 29 about how his faith grew during the nearly four years he protected Pope John Paul II as a member of the famed Swiss Guard.

An only child, he is the son of an Italian mother and Swiss father. He served in the Swiss Army before applying to join the Swiss Guard because, as he joked, he thought the uniforms looked sharp and would help him meet girls.

His talk was entitled I Served a Saint, and he spoke of how John Paul II helped me to grow as a man in my faith and in his appreciation of the priesthood. The love of Christ was the dominant force in the life of our Holy Father.

Read more about Swiss Guard's faith in God deepens on Catholic News Agency.