Do You Know Why They Tie The Pope's Ankles Together After He Dies?

[Moneybags]

I was asked that from someone and didn't know the answer.

[philosophette]

Perhaps so that once rigor mortis sets in the body does not look odd as its being viewed by the public?

[N/A Gone]

no speculation..hehe,

I am curious about this.

[Moneybags]

bump

[WillT]

It's so he doesn't run away! Duh.

[journeyman]

If this was a serious question, and we should treat it that way until we know it isn't . . . where was it said or written this was a standard procedure?

I've heard about cutting the ring, and breaking the seal, and locking up the rooms . . . I have not heard that the ankles are tied . . . where did they see/hear/read that, and can they send us there to see/hear/read it for ourselves?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

So he'll fall head-over-heals in love with God when he gets to heaven?

[Moneybags]

This is a very serious question. Someone asked me because his son was asked this for CCD. I had no idea and the father didn't know either.

[jeffpugh]

This is definitely off topic but what is the meaning of the term 'bump'?

... Back on topic... this is an intriguing thing... its sort of like putting the candle over the pope's mouth and such to see if he is alive... that was on old practice but now they just call out his given name 3 times... okay still off topic... bare with me people.

[journeyman]

<diverging from topic>

bump is also known as bttt or back to the top

it's a method of bringing a topic back to the top of the board

<returning to topic>



quick google of words like pope dead ankles legs dead ritual came up dry


[url="http://www.vatican.va/gpII/bulletin/B0184-XX.02.pdf"]http://www.vatican.va/gpII/bulletin/B0184-XX.02.pdf[/url]

press release issued by Vatican didn’t go into details


[url="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_22021996_universi-dominici-gregis_en.html"]http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_pau...-gregis_en.html[/url]

Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (John Paul rewrote the rules for conclaves)

[url="http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,349575,00.html"]http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,349575,00.html[/url]

Pope’s heart – might have gone to Poland for burial


There was an Orthodox saint (martyr) whose ankles were broken as part of the torture before death
[url="http://www.missionstclare.com/english/people/apr14o.html"]http://www.missionstclare.com/english/people/apr14o.html[/url]

[Franimus]

i just knew about the hitting him on the head with a hammer thing.. not the other stuff

[SJRod55]

Any new considerations??

[Noel's angel]

It may be simply for the sake of presentation of the body. It would be less dignified looking if the corpse's legs were apart and his feet facing to either side. It's like the way they do things to ensure the eyes and mouth are closed, in order to make the body look dignified in death. Binding the ankles would keep the legs aligned.

[-I---Love]

I have heard this several times but can't remember exactly. Where - I think it's true though - or use to be - I believe I read it once in a small Pope Trivia book - something like interesting facts you never knew...but I don't own the book.