Few things are more mysterious in the modern world than the rituals of the Roman Catholic church, particularly those involving the Pope. Such books as Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown have raised interest in the Church and its customs that date back thousands of years. Among the most interesting rituals are those involving the Pope – his election and death in particular. When a Pope dies, a new one is elected by a College of Cardinals in a process called the Papal Conclave. (We’ll save the details for a later fact.)
When the Pope passes away, however, there’s a whole other process that follows. First, the Cardinal Chamberlain (Camerlengo) will tap the Pope’s head three times with a silver hammer, calling out his Baptismal name each time. This is to determine that he is, indeed, dead, and not just in deep sleep. Then, the Ring of the Fishermen is cut in two in the presence of the Cardinals. Finally, the pope’s seals are defaced (to avoid others using them again), and his personal apartment is sealed. The body then lies in state for several days before being interred in a crypt, and a nine day period of mourning is observed.
