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Pope promotes Swiss Guard's No. 2 to top post

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Saturday promoted the No. 2 officer of the Swiss Guards to commander of the colorful, 500-year-old army, whose members take an oath to protect pontiffs.

The Vatican said that Lt. Col. Christoph Graf will now command the guardsmen, who stand vigilant during papal ceremonies.

Graf, who joined the Guards in 1987, takes the place of Col. Daniel Anrig, who had been commander since 2008.

Francis didn't elaborate about why he asked Anrig to step down, except to say it was time for "renewal." Anrig said in a recent interview that he didn't ask why he was sent packing. There were reports that Anrig's style, described as severe, didn't synch with Francis' informality. The pontiff, in an interview in December, denied that Anrig was removed because he was too rigid.

Anrig has noted the Guards' security responsibilities expanded with Francis' decision to live in a Vatican hotel instead of in the Apostolic Palace.

An undated but recent photo of Lt. Col. Christoph Graf. The Vatican announced Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 that Pope Francis has promoted the No. 2 officer of the Swiss Guards to commander of the colorful, 500-year-old army, whose members take an oath to protect pontiffs. Graf, who joined the Guards in 1987, takes the place of Col. Daniel Anrig, who had been commander since 2008. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, pool) The Associated Press
An undated but recent photo of Lt. Col. Christoph Graf, fourth from left. The Vatican announced Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 that Pope Francis has promoted the No. 2 officer of the Swiss Guards to commander of the colorful, 500-year-old army, whose members take an oath to protect pontiffs. Graf, who joined the Guards in 1987, takes the place of Col. Daniel Anrig, who had been commander since 2008. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, pool) The Associated Press
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