Robert Nünlist

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Robert Nünlist (born February 17, 1911 in Aarau ; † December 4, 1991 in Niedererlinsbach ) was a colonel in the Swiss Army and from 1957 to 1972 commander of the Papal Swiss Guard ( Praefectus Helveticae Custodiae et Corporis Domini Nostri Papae ).

Life

Pope Pius XII In 1957, Colonel Nünlist was appointed commander of the Swiss Guard. At the time of his appointment as commander, Nünlist was in Switzerland as a colonel in the general staff, chief of staff of the 2nd Army Corps and also commander of the infantry schools and the Luzern arsenal. At that time, the commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard also held the office of “Swiss Ambassador” to the Holy See, as a special embassy for Switzerland in the Vatican State did not yet exist.

Pope Pius XII was looking for an outside leader because the papal corps had some problems. Nünlist consistently eliminated these “Roman customs”, which hindered service operations and the fulfillment of tasks. He campaigned for an improvement in the living and working conditions of the guardsmen. In order to achieve more continuity in the guards, the two-year contract for new entrants was introduced, whose swearing-in took place in the Damasushof.

Commander Nünlist had to make tough and consistent decisions in conflict-prone situations. The association of former Papal Swiss Guards fell out over the "command affair", which led to a temporary split into two associations. On April 8, 1959, Nünlist was assassinated by a guardsman (other sources speak of a guardsman who had previously been dismissed by the commanding officer). Nünlist was injured but was able to continue his service.

After the death of Pope Pius XII. in 1958 Pope John XXIII followed. whose beginning travel required a new security system from the guard. The time of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) presented a particular challenge to the Guards . During this time, Pope John XXIII died. and Pope Paul VI. became his successor. A conclave and a council determined new tasks for the Swiss Guard and the other guards still in existence at the time. During Robert Nünlist's tenure there were efforts to dissolve the Swiss Guard, but this was prevented.

In 1972, after two heart attacks , Nünlist had to resign as a guard commander. He returned to Switzerland and spent his other years in Kappel near Olten. In 1991 Robert Nünlist died after a short, serious illness. He is buried in the Meisenhard cemetery in Olten.

In 1937 Robert Nünlist married Alice Degen from Olten . They had two daughters and a son. The cave explorer Hugo Nünlist was one of his brothers.

Robert Nünlist's dissertation was published in 1938 under the title The Right of Interference .

Awards

  • 1964: Commander with the star of the Order of San Gregorio Magno ( Order of Gregorius ) for seven years of service
  • 1971: Knight with a shoulder strap (Cavaliere di collare) of the Order of Pius IX. ( Order of Pius )
  • 1972: Commenda dell'Ordine Pontificio con placca, for fifteen years of service

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Heinrich Pfyffer from Altishofen Commander of the Swiss
Guard 1957–1972 		Franz Pfyffer from Altishofen
personal data
SURNAME Nünlist, Robert
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Colonel in the Swiss Army, Commander of the Swiss Guard
DATE OF BIRTH February 17, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH Aarau
DATE OF DEATH 4th December 1991
Place of death Niedererlinsbach