Camillo Cibin
Camillo Cibin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 June 1926 Salgareda |
| Died | 25 October 2009 (aged 83) Rome |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Inspector General of the Vatican Gendarme Corps |
| Spouse | Maria Cibin |
| Children | Three |
Camillo Cibin (3 June 1926 – 25 October 2009) was a military and Papal bodyguard and Inspector General of the Corpo della Gendarmeria, the security and police force of Vatican City. He retired in 2006 after 58 years of service in the security force, and over 40 years as its commander.[1] He served as a bodyguard to six popes and was known as "The Pope's Guardian Angel".[2]
Early life and career
Camillo Cibin was born at Salgareda, in the northern province of Treviso in Italy, on 3 June 1926.[3] He joined the Vatican police force at age 21. He began serving in charge of security at the Vatican Council in the 1960s. He was appointed inspector-general of the Vatican Gendarmerie in 1972.[3] Cibin was considered so discreet that it was joked about in the Vatican that he never answered a question, even "What time is it?".[2]
Pope John Paul II Assassination attempt
Cibin was with Pope John Paul II when the pontiff was shot in St. Peter's Square in 1981. Cibin captured Mehmet Ali Ağca, who was convicted of the assassination attempt and spent 19 years in an Italian prison.[1] Cibin tried to resign after this but the Pope insisted he remain in his post, and claimed that Our Lady of Fatima had helped his survival.[2]
A year later, Cibin prevented priest Juan María Fernández y Krohn from stabbing the pontiff during his visit to Fatima, in Portugal, a visit to the shrine of Our Lady, arranged to give thanks for the Pope's survival of the first attack.[4]
Cibin retired at age 79, having protected Pope John Paul in 104 places and escorted Pope Benedict XVI to Germany and Poland.[4][2]
Death and funeral
Cibin died at 83 of natural causes.[4][3] His funeral mass was performed in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City.[2]
A commemorative plaque was unveiled in Cibin's memory on 16 October 2011, in Les Combes d'Introd in the Aosta Valley.[5]
References
- ^ a b Cindy Wooden (9 June 2006). "Six popes later, Vatican security chief turns in his jogging shoes". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
- ^ a b c d e "Camillo Cibin: Bodyguard to six popes who twice intervened in attempts on the life of John Paul II". The Independent. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "Camillo Cibin". The Telegraph. UK. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
- ^ a b c "Security Chief for the Vatican Was 'Guardian Angel' to Pope". The Wall Street Journal. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
- ^ "Comunicato stampa". Consiglio Regionale della Valle d'Aosta (in Italian). Retrieved 13 April 2025.