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Philippines' Black Nazarene procession draws numerous countless devotees

Numerous thousands of barefoot fans signed up with a yearly procession in the Philippines of a centuriesold statue of Jesus Christ on Thursday in one of the world's grandest displays of Catholic devotion and expression of faith.

Filipinos turned the streets of Manila to a sea of maroon and gold and swarmed the Black Nazarene, a life-sized picture of Jesus Christ bearing down a cross, as followers jostled for a. chance to pull the thick rope towing the carriage throughout the. Philippine capital.

The procession's organisers have estimated about 220,000. individuals went to mass before the procession, while 94,500 remained in. the march as of 8 a.m. (0000 GMT). That number is anticipated to. swell as it moves along its 5.8 km (3.6 mile) path.

Other fans tossed white towels at the image as marshals. cleaned them of its surface area, thinking that touching the statue. would bless them and heal their illnesses.

Nearly 80% of Filipinos recognize as Roman Catholic, a key. legacy of Spanish colonisation in the Philippine archipelago for. more than 300 years.

The late Filipino priest and theologian Sabino Vengco said. in 2019 the statue's revered black colour was because of the. mesquite wood used in constructing the image, debunking a. longstanding myth its blackened image was because of a fire that. emerged on the ship that brought it to the Philippines from. Mexico in the early 17th century.

The procession, called the traslacion, or translation,. honors the transfer of the Black Nazarene from a church. inside the old Spanish capital of Intramuros to its present. location in Quiapo church.

Cardinal Jose Advincula, Manila's archbishop, told devotees. on Thursday to turn away from wicked, greed and vices and follow. the mentors of Jesus Christ.

Let us live up to his rules, embrace his mentors. and follow his example. It is much better to follow the Beloved. Lord, Advincula stated in his homily ahead of the procession.

(source: Reuters)