Vatican protocol requires the death of a Pope first is verified by a physician. |
|
Then, a church official calls the Pope's baptismal name three times to make sure that he is dead. If the Pope does not awaken, that same offical strikes his forehead with a silver hammer, just to make sure. |
|
And then, finally, to be absolutely certain that he is really, most sincerely dead, a silver stake is driven through his heart. |
|