Sebastian Esai Eco Eviota, the primary full-blooded Filipino member of the 516-year outdated Papal Swiss Guard. PHOTO COURTESY OF VERITAS PHILIPPINES
Sebastian Esai Eco Eviota was the primary “full-blooded” Filipino to hitch the 516-year outdated Pontifical Swiss Guard, a minor armed pressure and honor guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects the pope and the Apostolic Palace in Vatican Metropolis.
Eviota formally joined one of many oldest navy items in steady operation following a letter from Swiss Guard commander Christoph Graf issued earlier this 12 months.
Eviota, who grew up in Davao Metropolis the place he was lively in serving in numerous ministries of the Church, is the second Filipino to be included within the Pontifical Swiss Guard after Swiss-Filipino Vincent Lüthi. His father, Diomedes Eviota Jr. is from Surigao Metropolis whereas his mom Editha Eco is from Agusan Del Sur.
He went to Switzerland in 2009 the place he turned lively in Youths for Christ (YFC) Europe and a council member of the English-speaking Roman Catholic Neighborhood of Berne.
Eviota turned a second lieutenant of the Swiss Army after two years of fundamental coaching and has served within the Infantry thirteenth Battalion.
The Pontificio Collegio Filippino, a school for diocesan clergymen from the Philippines finding out at pontifical universities in Rome, expressed pleasure within the appointment of a Filipino to the ranks of the Pontifical Swiss Guard on the Vatican.
Father Gregory Ramon Gaston, rector of the establishment, stated it’s inspiring {that a} fellow Filipino is lively in a widely known group abroad which is a type of service to the Catholic Church.
“We’re comfortable to see youngsters of Filipinos included into the Church and society overseas,” stated Fr. Gaston stated.
He stated the inclusion of Filipinos within the Swiss Guard is proof of the widespread missionary work of Filipinos as Christians, particularly because the Philippines is the third nation with the most important variety of baptized Catholics at over 80 million.
“As we start the following 500 Years of Christianity within the Philippines, the service of these with Filipino roots within the Pontifical Swiss Guards and within the Vatican as a complete is one more manifestation that certainly we’re gifted to present of ourselves wherever God has referred to as us to be,” stated Fr. Gaston stated.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard was established in 1506 in the course of the reign of Pope Julius II
