# Does the papacy really use a Silver Hammer to make sure the Pope is dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737 "2002-10-17T21:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/21 "2002-10-18T21:48:31Z")
This puts me in mind of a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode I watched the other night. Captain Picard was summoned by the Klingon leader to arbitrate the right of succession when he died. Sure enough, he died shortly thereafter. The first thing Picard had to do was officiate at a ceremony to verify the leader’s death. But rather than using a silver hammer, they used Klingon “pain sticks”. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/22 "2002-10-18T23:56:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > \*\* > The Byzantine Catholic Church is an Eastern Rite church, yes, but under the authority of the Holy See and whose members are bound by the Code of Canon Law. \*\* Alan, the Byzantine church follows the Roman law. Other Eastern Rite churches do not; all, however, are subject to the Congregation for Oriental Churches. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/23 "2002-10-19T00:32:55Z")
Once the death of the pontiff is declared, his ring is removed. At this point the silver hammer is used to smash it to smithereens. This also dates back many centuries; the ring was used to seal or notarize documents. Destroying it assured that no shenanigans would take place during the interegnum (the term between popes), like an authorization to have the entire Vatican Bank reserves transferred to someone’s private vault for safekeeping. This whole area is explored carefully by John Allen in his book [Conclave: The Politics, Personalities, and Process of the Next Papal Election](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385504535/qid%3D1027897715/sr%3D8-1/ref%3Dsr%5F8%5F1/103-9475453-0353423). > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Bricker_ > **The era of lay Popes is long gone as a matter of realism, of course…** Not so fast! Check out the case of [Pope Michael I](http://popemichael.homestead.com/). Definitely worth a chuckle. Maybe even a pilgrimmage, if you’re near Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/24 "2002-10-19T01:09:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > \*\*Has there ever been Camerlengo named Maxwell Edison? \*\* I found this link concerning Maxweel Edison: [http://www.worldsworstweb.com/1100/edison.htm](http://www.worldsworstweb.com/1100/edison.htm) Even has a picture of him with his silver hammer. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/25 "2002-10-19T01:21:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Once the death of the pontiff is declared, his ring is removed. At this point the silver hammer is used to smash it to smithereens Wow! That’s gotta be one big hammer. > [@](#): > > Upon the third tap and call to the pope, if the pope does not answer, it is proclaimed, “Pope N. is truly dead!” But I bet they still buried him with a bell, just in case.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/26 "2002-10-19T04:46:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \* > \*\*Am I the only one to find myself humming _bing bang Maxwell’s Silver hammer came down upon his head…_? \*\* No…but I’ve also got parts of cpr classes chasing that around my mind, too. " Pope, pope, are you okay?" lol. ---
**Author:** ![kase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@kase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kase)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/27 "2002-10-19T11:34:19Z")
hahahahahahaha This post surely deserves a high ranking. LMAO at all of you. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/28 "2002-10-19T13:54:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dqa \* > \*\*Not so fast! Check out the case of [Pope Michael I](http://popemichael.homestead.com/). Definitely worth a chuckle. Maybe even a pilgrimmage, if you’re near Kansas. \*\* So, do the sedevaticanist “popes” even get the title of antipope, or does the Catholic Church not even give them that much dignity? I’m thinking the Vatican’s hierarchy on papal claims might be: Pope Antipope Crazy guy running around thinking he’s Pope. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/29 "2002-10-19T15:01:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Am I the only one to find myself humming _bing bang Maxwell’s Silver hammer came down upon his head…_? **cstamets’** link explains that the song is about Maxwell Edison. Living in the states, I’d never heard of him. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/30 "2002-10-19T15:10:26Z")
IANAP, but I’d put him in the third category. How old is that picture of him? I’ve met one or two of the “I reject Vatican II” crowd before, but they were old geezers. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/31 "2002-10-19T15:17:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cornflakes \* > \*\ ***cstamets’** link explains that the song is about Maxwell Edison. Living in the states, I’d never heard of him. \*\* I think that would be a wooosh. Unless President Bush really is disappointed with his rating on [amihotornot.com](http://amihotornot.com) [http://www.worldsworstweb.com/1002/bush.htm](http://www.worldsworstweb.com/1002/bush.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/32 "2002-10-19T15:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diceman \* > \*\* > How old is that picture of him? I’ve met one or two of the “I reject Vatican II” crowd before, but they were old geezers. \*\* According to his auto-biography on the site: [http://popemichael.homestead.com/whoispopemichael.html](http://popemichael.homestead.com/whoispopemichael.html) > [@](#): > > Pope Michael was born David Allen Bawden on September 22. 1959. He was Baptized on October, 18, 1959, the Feast of Saint Luke. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/33 "2002-10-19T20:10:08Z")
Interestingly, Michael considers Pope Paul VI (1963-78) to be the antichrist. On the other hand, another would-be pope also abhors the changes brought about by Vatican II, but [Gregory XVII](http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/7170/ibio1.htm) (apparently one of three G17’s out there) considers Paul VI to be a Saint, “the innocent victim of freemasonry and communism which actually govern the Church.” Of course, everyone knows that John Paul II has been in bed with the communists his whole papacy. ---
**Author:** ![PolskiKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@PolskiKing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolskiKing)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/34 "2002-10-21T12:41:14Z")
“Pope John Paul has been in bed with the communists his whole papacy?” How do u figure- Ialways thought he was trying to bring down communism- he played a big part in liberating poland, after all. What sources do u haf, dqa that suggests otherwise? -PK ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/35 "2002-10-21T12:53:00Z")
_Whoosh_ , part II, PK… unless you’re in turn making a Polish joke in which case that’s an excellent Compound Whoosh fodder. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/36 "2002-10-21T14:33:55Z")
Papal Undertaker: Bring out yer dead! Cardinal: Here’s one. PU: Ninepence. Pope: I’m not dead! PU: What? C: Nothing. Here’s your ninepence. PU: 'Ere. He says he’s not dead! C: Yes he is. P: I’m not! PU: He isn’t? C: Well, he will be soon. He’s very ill. P: I’m getting better! C: No, you’re not. You’ll be stone dead in a moment. PU: I can’t take him like that. It’s against regulations! P: I think I’ll go for a walk. C: You’re not fooling anyone, you know. Look. Isn’t there something you can do? P: [singing] I feel happy! I feel happy! [bing bang Maxwell’s Silver Hammer came down upon his head!] C: Ah, thanks very much. PU: Not at all. See you on Thursday. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zonyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zonyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zonyx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/37 "2005-02-05T12:28:13Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Hahahaha 😃 😃 😃 > > ahhhh… > > Carry on. I concur ---
**Author:** ![harry\_sgame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@harry\_sgame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harry_sgame)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/38 "2005-02-05T15:33:28Z")
Try this one. Maxwell Edison elected. Hits self on head with silver hammer. Cardinal:Why are you doing that? Pope: Because it feels so good when I stop. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/39 "2005-02-05T16:01:15Z")
> [@Zonyx](#): > > I concur Y’know, this is a truly excellent example of a bad way to resurrect a two-year-old thread. As if there was ever a GOOD way. Welcome, **Zonyx** ; feel free to look around and read old threads, but try not to post just to say you agree with something someone said back in '02, and probably doesn’t even remember saying, if they’re even still around the message board. It doesn’t go over too well. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737/40 "2005-02-05T17:00:57Z")
Interesting. I never understood the Beatles “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” reference before. Now I do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-papacy-really-use-a-silver-hammer-to-make-sure-the-pope-is-dead/132737.md?page=3)