Goa, April 23 -- Tens of thousands of mourners are expected to arrive in Vatican City over the next three days to pay their final respects to the Pope, who passed away peacefully on Easter Monday at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a transformative papacy that left a profound impact on the global Catholic community.

The funeral ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 9 AM UK time, and will be attended by world leaders, religious figures, and countless faithful from around the world. The Vatican has announced a period of "novendiali", a traditional nine-day mourning period, during which special prayers and masses will be held in memory of the late pontiff.

Following the novendiali, the Church will enter one of its most solemn and ...