Then, the pope's signet ring he uses to sign and seal documents is supposed to be destroyed, as his reign as head of one of the world's largest religions is over. Francis' death would trigger a ...

The camerlengo then announces the news to the Cardinal Vicar for Rome. Additionally, the Pope’s signet Fisherman’s ring, which is used to seal papal documents, is destroyed and broken as a ...

Once the pope’s death is confirmed, the papal signet ring, which seals official documents, will be destroyed to signal the end of his papacy. Then, the papal apartments will be sealed and the ...

(An oft-repeated myth holds that the camerlengo also gently taps the pope’s head with a silver hammer; the Vatican has long denied this.) When the pontiff does not respond, according to tradition, his ...