>>1449784
>Guardian of the Pope.
Eurasian Eagle Owl ?
Always thought it'd be a Great Horned one, but when I went through this page, where it looked like Hussein bows to the Swiss Guard:
theweek.com/captured/448586/weeks-best-photojournalism
a bit further down there was an image of the Eurasian Eagle Owl.
Note the spotted feathering on head & chest, also the white feathers around the eye. Eagle would also match quite well as a Guardian. Not sure if that had been solved already ....