[MeanWestTexan]

"Did you hear on Fox News where the pope is hit in the forehead 3 times with a small mallet to break the seal and release the spirit to go into the next pope."

Urban myth. They used to tap the head --- and hold up a silver mirror for breathing BTW --- b/c up until recently it was hard to tell if someone was dead. (The steothoscope is a recent invention.)

The "release the spirit" is pure B.S.

[BriarBey]

The "release the spirit" is pure B.S.

******

You can only hope.

[Dean Baker]

"Did you hear on Fox News where the pope is hit in the forehead 3 times with a small mallet to break the seal and release the spirit to go into the next pope."

Urban myth. They used to tap the head --- and hold up a silver mirror for breathing BTW --- b/c up until recently it was hard to tell if someone was dead. (The steothoscope is a recent invention.)

The "release the spirit" is pure B.S.

---

I saw this same thing referenced on another board (A board that doesn't have ANYWHERE NEAR as many educated Christians as this one, so maybe someone can help us if what I am about to post is incorrect)...

I read in the USA Today about what happens to the pope shortly after death.

They do use a silver hammer (Of sorts), but they use it to break his ring. Not to hit him on the head.

I wonder if that's getting mixed-in with some urban legends or old practices?