Pope Francis has promoted Christoph Graph this Saturday to be the new commander of the Swiss Guards this Saturday.
Graf, 53, had been serving as vice-commander until his promotion. In 1987, the Lucerne native joined the Swiss Guards.
He succeeds Col. Daniel Anrig, who has held the post since 2008 and whose contract expired Jan. 31.
The Swiss Guards take an oath to protect the Pope and have been in existence for some 500 years.