Burial of Pope Emeritus Benedict Raises Serious Protocol Questions.....

Vatican City - With the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign the position in 600 years, serious questions are being raised over the potential handling of the funeral of the former leader of the Catholic church. 

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, shown here force choking a Cardinal who had failed him for the last time 

"Usually when a pope is buried, there are well elaborated protocols in place that ensure a successful interment." papal historian Agostino Paravicini Bagliani explained. "The rites and ceremonies we are accustomed to seeing when a reigning pope dies are a comforting and necessary part of the process. But this is different and we can't say with any degree of certainty what is going to happen. It might not work."

Over the past 600 years, no papal corpse has reanimated. This is widely believed to be a testament to the burial policies that have been strictly enforced over the centuries. According to Bagliani, in the case of a former pontiff there is no established blueprint. "It's definitely uncharted territory with no modern precedent to turn to. It's complicated, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if something goes wrong and people get eaten."

Without guidance on how to properly bury the 95-year-old remnants of Benedict XVI, most experts believe that the event will likely be celebrated in a similar fashion as a reigning pope. But some, like physician and medical advisor to the Vatican Morto Fishmani, worry that this might not be enough to prevent his empty shell from regaining some rudimentary consciousness, if not full sentience, and an insatiable desire to feed. "A living pope burying a dead pope? That's never happened and nobody can promise that the usual measures will suffice. If you need me, I'll be on a boat with a 6-month supply of food and water."

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will celebrate the funeral mass for Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square on Thursday from behind a protective perimeter fence and while surrounded by trained snipers from the Pontifical Swiss Guard. Benedict will likely be buried alongside his 148 predecessors who lie in the crypt beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, according to Bagliani. "Ultimately the decision belongs to Pope Francis, but I don't think even he will announce the burial site until after we see if Benedict is going to emerge from his casket hungry for human flesh."