I’ve believed, sincs I was little, that the pope was bonked on his holy forehead with a silver hammer to verify his demise. An interesting side story was that the actual deed was performed by a “lost soul” because to bonk a pope, dead or not, would insure eternal damnation. Being an ex-catholic I prefer to believe that the pope was, and likely still is, smote upon his infallible forehead to convince his buds of his death.
Here’s snopes’ take on the subject.
BTW; if You are real, I’m only kidding. Okay?
Peace,
mangeorge