Next to St Peter's Basilica, two
Swiss Guards stood underneath an arch. One carried a sword, the other a
spear. The Vatican had evidently calculated that two guards familiar
with medieval weaponry would be enough to deter a raid.
At the very least, they might be able to duel assailants into a standoff until reinforcements arrived. The guards allowed us into the heart of Vatican City, for a trial that has gripped Italians for weeks.http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36310087