Raphael is a Swiss Guard. And he met his wife, Pilar, on vacation in Mexico.
RAPHAEL EGGER
Swiss Guard
I spent three months in Merida. I learned Spanish and fell in love with her—and she can tell you everything else.
The two got married in 2017 and now live in an apartment inside the Vatican with their son—it is a life that Pilar never imagined.
PILAR PATRÓN
Swiss Guard Wife
When he asked me to marry him, I had no idea, to tell you the truth. I was told, “let's go to Rome” and said,“then what?” Then let's go. And I arrived here and it is a total, absolute change.
The change meant moving to a foreign country, studying Italian and spending a lot of time alone until she managed to make friends with wives of the other guards. Not to mention the difficulty of living with someone who has irregular work hours.
PILAR PATRÓN
Swiss Guard Wife
At the beginning it was very difficult because of the shifts he had. Sometimes he had night shifts and it was hard work because he had to rest before going to his shift and if he woke up at 11 o'clock at night, he woke me up and when he arrived at 6 o'clock in the morning, I had to be quiet all morning to avoid waking him up, because at the end of the day, he had to go back to work.
When Raphael and Pilar's son was born, the situation became even more interesting.
PILAR PATRÓN
Swiss Guard Wife
Right now with Ignacio, it is a little difficult for me in the sense that he might spend a whole day without seeing his dad.
For example, yesterday he saw him for an hour and a half. That's okay, today he saw him more. But for me, the day alone with Ignacio lasts forever.
Despite the challenges, Pilar is delighted with the environment her son is growing up in.
PILAR PATRÓN
Swiss Guard Wife
Here, regardless of whether you live in an apartment inside or outside, we are like a big family. So we all support each other. Ignacio is growing up in a very nice, very safe environment.
Many guards who have children, like Ignacio, before going to school, already have friends here. Every afternoon after school, like the same little truck that takes them there and picks them up, they come down and play soccer here in the courtyard.
Another characteristic feature of living in the Vatican is that the couple sees the Pope relatively often. And Pope Francis does not let this couple out of his sight—whenever he can, he gifts them tequila.
PILAR PATRÓN
Swiss Guard Wife
I thanked him when he approached me, I said "thank you very much for the tequila, Your Holiness," and he replied "Are you out of it?
The excitement is the same. Both the first and the last time. That is, every year it is the same excitement to see him.
For Pilar, living in the Vatican has been an unexpected turn in her life. It is an adventure that began with a Swiss Guard's vacation in Mexico—a simple trip that changed her life.
JRB
TR: AT
