Is it true that when a Pope dies, all the Catholic churches in the world will ring their bells for 24 hours? Will it happen when John Paul II dies?

-- john dern (johndern@yahoo.com), May 24, 2004

Answers

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-- (bump@bump.bump), May 24, 2004.

Most catholic churches do not have bells anymore unfortunately. I don't know if the ones that do will ring them. I highly doubt it though, as too many people would complain.

-- Brian Crane (brian.crane@cranemills.com), May 24, 2004.

John Paul II has made so much contribution to the defense of the faith, it would be a shame if the churches were to dishonor him by failing for the first time to ring the bells. maybe in america the churches will be silent, but in europe there will be mourning for such a great man.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), May 24, 2004.

ok so it is true?

just cause most churches dont have bells doesn't mean they wouldn't turn on the "bell sound system."

before, was it done every hour for 24 hours? or was it done constantly for 24 hours?

-- john dern (johndern@yahoo.com), May 24, 2004.

john,

I believe this is legend, or the exaggeration of a legend. Your question intrigued me. I tried to find some info on this, but all I could find was the following from a Canadian website about bells:

There are many legends about bells. One is that a silver bell in a cathedral at Avignon has the power to ring of its own volition. It rang to announce the accession of a new pope, and when a pope died it was said to toll without stopping for twenty-four hours

Also, I don't think the majority of churches (American churches anyway) have bells nor bell "sound systems" these days. They used to be rung to designate certain worship times such as Mass, the Angelus, the 3 o'clock prayer etc. but this has fallen by the wayside.

-- Brian Crane (brian.crane@cranemills.com), May 25, 2004.