On Tuesday, March 4th, Somos Community Care will present the exclusive premiere of Honor in Armor: Inside the Vatican Swiss Guard, at Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in New York City. The captivating 52-minute documentary takes viewers inside one of the world’s most revered military organizations, the Vatican Swiss Guard. The film provides an unprecedented glimpse into the Guards’ dedication, showcasing personal testimonies that highlight their 500-year-long commitment to protecting the Pope and Vatican City.
This documentary unveils for the first time documents from the Swiss Guard’s private archives, shedding light on a secret mission during World War II. The film reveals the story of a Swiss Guard officer who risked his life to drive a truckload of weapons from Switzerland to the Vatican, navigating German troops and Allied bombings, in order to protect Pope Pius XII from a kidnapping attempt by Adolf Hitler.
Honor in Armor traces the origins of the Swiss Guard, established over 500 years ago, and explores the motivations of the Swiss men who continue to choose to join this prestigious army today. With exclusive insights into the Guards’ daily lives inside the Vatican’s barracks, the documentary offers a rare insight into the devotion of this historic institution to the Catholic Church and the Pope.
Founder of Somos Community Care, Dr. Ramon Tallaj has worked closely with Pope Francis and Vatican City promoting the organizations commitment to health equity and the shared values of the international Catholic Church. In November 2023 Dr. Tallaj and the Pontifical Academy for Life launched the first global campaign for the role of the primary care physician supported by Pope Francis and was officially presented at Pontificio Collegio Teutonico in Vatican City.
Written by Seàn-Patrick Lovett and directed by Jesús Garcés Lambert, Honor in Armor was produced by the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Dr. Ramón Tallaj Foundation, and WaterStone Group. Following its debut screenings in Switzerland and Madrid, the film will make its U.S. premiere on March 4th.
Two screenings will be presented at The Frank Shiner Theater, 18 Bleecker St, on March 4th at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are free with registration at SheenCenter.org
About Somos Community Care:
SOMOS Community Care (SOMOS) is New York’s only provider-led, nonprofit, community-based integrated social care network. It comprises over 2,500 network providers responsible for reaching and delivering culturally competent care to over 1 million Medicaid lives citywide. For more information on SOMOS, please visit www.somoscommunitycare.org
