{{Short description|35th Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Colonel | image = Christoph Graf - 2024.jpg | caption = Graf in 2024 | name = Christoph Graf | office = 35th Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard | term_start = 7 February 2015 | term_end = | predecessor = Daniel Anrig | successor = | monarch = Francis (2015–2025)<br/>Leo XIV (2025–present) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|9|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Pfaffnau, Switzerland | allegiance = {{VAT}} | branch = Pontifical Swiss Guard | service_years = 1987–present | rank = Colonel }}
Colonel '''Christoph Graf''' (born 5 September 1961) is a Swiss military officer. He serves as the 35th Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, appointed by Pope Francis on 7 February 2015, succeeding Colonel Daniel Anrig.
== Biography == Graf was born in Pfaffnau, in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. He joined the Swiss Guard in 1987.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} In August 1999 he was promoted to sergeant, and later in 2000 he was promoted to sergeant-major, a position in which he remained until April 2009 when he was promoted to second captain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.schweizergarde.ch/downloads/kader-ab-1858.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-04-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121090330/http://www.schweizergarde.ch/downloads/kader-ab-1858.pdf |archive-date=2015-11-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In October 2010, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and vice commander of the guard, where he acted as a chief of staff and senior adviser to the commander.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardiasvizzera.va/content/guardiasvizzera/en/guardia/organizzazione.html|title=Organization|website=www.guardiasvizzera.va|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219105042/http://www.guardiasvizzera.va/content/guardiasvizzera/en/guardia/organizzazione.html|archive-date=2015-02-19}}</ref>
In late 2014, it was announced that Anrig would leave the position of commander after seven years of service. On 7 February 2015, Pope Francis appointed Graf as the new commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-appoints-lt-col-christoph-graf-new-sw|title=Pope Francis appoints Lt. Col. Christoph Graf new Swiss Guard commander|website=www.news.va|access-date=2015-04-24|archive-date=2017-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720113011/http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-appoints-lt-col-christoph-graf-new-sw|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=Daniel Anrig}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard | years=2015–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graf, Christoph}} Category:1961 births Category:20th-century Swiss military personnel Category:21st-century Swiss military personnel Category:People from Willisau District Category:Commanders of the Swiss Guard Category:Living people Category:Swiss military officers