hans.gerwitz

When the pope dies, the cardinal cham­berlain (Camerlengo) of the holy Roman Church (currently Eduardo Cardinal Martinez Somalo) ascer­tains the pope’s death, tradi­tionally by calling the pope three times by his baptismal name without response. The ritual of striking the head with a silver hammer (which would later be used to break the Fisherman’s Ring and the papal seal) may be replaced by covering the face with a cloth.
pauline.org

Thanks to Scott.