Swiss President Meets Pope Leo XIV at Vatican.

Guy Parmelin met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Wednesday morning ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed plans for the construction of new barracks for the Swiss Guard within the Vatican. The project is expected to begin next year as part of preparations for the 500th anniversary of the historic Sack of Rome on May 6, 1527.

The anniversary commemorates the sacrifice of 147 Swiss Guards who lost their lives while defending Pope Clement VII against the forces of Emperor Charles V during the attack on Rome.

President Parmelin emphasized the symbolic importance of beginning construction work on May 6, aligning the project with the historic anniversary celebrations.

However, the Vatican is still awaiting approval from UNESCO before major construction can proceed. Since the Vatican is a UNESCO-listed heritage site, international authorization is required for significant infrastructure work.

Parmelin stated that Switzerland hopes to cooperate closely with the Vatican in preparing for the anniversary events, describing them as highly significant for both the Catholic Church and Switzerland’s national heritage.

79-Year-Old Man Loses CHF 40,000 in Romance Scam

A 79-year-old retired man in Winterthur has lost more than CHF 40,000 after becoming the victim of a suspected romance scam, according to local police.

The Stadtpolizei Winterthur confirmed the arrest of two suspects linked to the case. Investigators say the victim became acquainted earlier this year with two women from Romania, who later visited him at his home.

Authorities stated that the relationship quickly developed into an emotionally close and romantic connection. During this period, the suspects allegedly requested financial support by claiming to face urgent personal problems, including housing debt, medical expenses for a family member, and notary fees.

Over several meetings, the elderly victim reportedly transferred or handed over more than CHF 40,000 to the individuals involved.

The man later became suspicious and filed a complaint with Winterthur police, prompting a detailed investigation.

On April 24, police arrested a 29-year-old woman with German-Romanian dual citizenship and a 36-year-old Turkish man while they allegedly attempted to collect an additional CHF 6,500 from the victim.

Both suspects are currently under investigation for repeated fraud offences and have been handed over to prosecutors.