The vast spectrum of protecting others is not just limited to physical principals. Many years ago, when my calling into security was realized, I took immense admiration and influence behind those who protect the Roman Catholic Church, and the persons and relics held within.
This came in the form of the Pontifical Swiss Guard. New recruits into the Guard make the following pledge on the 6th of May each year in the commemoration of the 147 members of the Guard who lost their lives protecting Pope Clement VII during the Sack of Rome in 1527:
I swear that I will faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff (name of Pope), and his legitimate successors, and dedicate myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing, if necessary, my life to defend them.
Granted, as an American security pracademic, I do not apply as a member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard; however, being a devote Roman Catholic with a passion of protection, there were other ways, which I could protect the Church. This first began with my membership with ASIS International in 2011 and then ultimately joining the organization’s Cultural Properties Community in 2018.
This community allowed me to network and learn from other cultural properties security professionals. What I took most from this was that the community was accepting of a security practitioner that did not protect cultural property per se; however, had a passion for protecting symbols and locations attributed to my faith. Over the past 20 years, my team and I were salient in the protection of persons and fixed assets ranging from international airlines to corporate global headquarters, and executive protection ad hoc assignments.
While each assignment was new, exciting, and rewarding, there was still a spiritual need to find an opportunity to protect something or someone indicative of my faith. In February of 2023, I became a volunteer as a Third-Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus in New Jersey. It was in May of 2023 that the opportunity had come to volunteer in the form of protecting a religious relic.
Among other volunteer duties and stewardship throughout the Roman Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus are often called upon for a diverse range of duties. One of which was protecting Holy relics or events to local parishes and diocese. Although not an executive protection detail in the physical sense, I had the immense honor of volunteering as an Honor Guard to protect one of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statues of Fatima during Her visit to a local New Jersey parish.
The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima is a world-famous statue depicting the Blessed Mother as she appeared to three Shepard children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, in Fatima, Portugal on the 13th of May 1917. After both Francisco and Jacinta passed away in 1919 and 1920 respectively, Lucia devoted her life to the church as Sister on the 24th of October, 1925. In 1947, sculptor Jose’ Thedim was instructed by Sister Lucia herself to create a statue of the Blessed Mother, which resembled her magnificence as when She revealed Herself to the three children in 1917. The International Pilgrim Virgin statue of Fatima is one of two, which travels globally to help spread the message of the Blessed Mother of hope, peace, and salvation, who have not had the opportunity to visit Her in the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima.
With the threats to our world’s churches, and the relics they possess, (both fixed and abroad), still very real, this protective detail was just as similar and important as the protection of a high-profile principal visiting a satellite location on another continent. Just as a principal’s personal safety and security is paramount while in transit, so must be a statue symbolic of the faith of the world’s one billion Catholics.
Furthermore, just as a principal’s organization will face the possibility of a tarnished reputation, so would be the church and diocese if something were to happen if damage or harm had been done to such a sanctified relic. Although, not often pondered, the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima, also has transportation safety/security protocols in place, as well as a Statue Custodian who travels with the statue and ensures a safe return.
Without a doubt, the protection of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima is a close quarter protection assignment that has and will personally touch my heart now and for years to come