The Foundation for the Renovation of the Barracks of the Papal Swiss Guard in the Vatican is seeking 45 million Swiss francs ($45 million) to demolish the 19th-century buildings and construct new facilities.

The Swiss Guards are the pope's colourfully dressed personal protection force.

Funding is being sought from corporations and private individuals, while Switzerland has donated five million francs, and 17 of its 26 constituent cantons have collectively put in more than four million francs.

Lucerne canton in central Switzerland approved a 400,000-franc donation in January -- roughly one franc per inhabitant -- but the issue was taken to a referendum.

And on Sunday, 71 percent of voters rejected the canton's donation.

"The foundation is confident that it will be able to raise the 7.5 million Swiss francs still needed over the next few months to cover the estimated 45 million francs in construction costs," it said Monday.

It "respects" the result in Lucerne but "regrets" that the canton is not participating.

"The Lucerne vote does not jeopardise the intended donation goal," it said.

The Swiss Guards were created in 1506 by Pope Julius II.

They are a popular tourist magnet at the Vatican, with their showy yellow, red and blue uniforms, halberds -- an axe-like weapon -- and metal helmets with ostrich plumage.

Swiss Guards must all be men between 19 and 30 years old and at least 1.74 metres (5.7 feet) tall. They must be practising Roman Catholics, Swiss, and unmarried at the time of signing up.

The 135 guards commit to safeguarding the pope for at least 26 months.

- 'Bad state' -

Campaigners backing Lucerne's donation argued that the Swiss Guard benefited the country's image, embodying values of security, loyalty and reliability.

Those against said the Vatican had enough money of its own, while Lucerne had had to make savings in recent years. Some also pointed to the repeated scandals that have shaken the Vatican.

Lucerne has strong ties with the Guard: 25 of its 35 commanders have been from the canton, including the incumbent Christoph Graf.

When the barracks project was launched in 2016, it was initially thought that the existing three buildings could be upgraded.

However, "it's too old and in such a bad state you can't just renovate it", a spokesman told AFP. "It's easier to demolish and reconstruct them."

Building work will start in 2026 and should take three to four years.

The Vatican is covering the five million Swiss francs cost of rehousing the Guard during the build.