When a pope dies, ancient traditions begin immediately. A silver hammer strikes his forehead three times. His ring is destroyed. Within hours, over one hundred cardinals begin traveling to Rome from every corner of the globe. In this episode, we explore the crucial first nine days after a pope's death - from the precise protocols of confirming death, to the elaborate funeral preparations, to the behind-the-scenes machinations that begin as soon as the throne of Saint Peter becomes vacant.

Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNITERRUPTED LISTENING. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed!  You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free!