Twisted Bits - How to tell if your Pope is dead

Every pope has a chief of staff, called the
Camerlengo. When a pope dies, the Camerlengo must
certify that he is indeed dead. The ritual
tradition is to strike him on the forehead with
a silver hammer, call his baptismal name
three times and place a cloth over his mouth.
If the pope does not respond, the Camerlengo
declares him dead, authorizes a death certificate
and then seals the papal living apartments.

Later, the silver hammer is used to scratch and
break the papal ring and seal, so no documents
can be forged in his name.