Huge crowd of Catholics pray for peace in Middle East at start of the Philippines' annual Black Nazarene procession where MILLIONS clamour to touch statue of Jesus

15:29 • 09.01.20

Event

A teeming crowd of barefoot Filipinos prayed for peace in the Middle East on Thursday before rushing to try and touch a centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ during one of the world's largest Catholic festivals, the Daily Mail reports.

The day-long procession of the wooden Black Nazarene draws massive numbers of largely poor devotees who pray for the sick and a better life.

This year, widespread fears over the conflict between the United States and Iran were highlighted in a predawn Mass on the streets of the capital Manila.

More than 12,000 police, including bomb squads, snipers and helicopter-borne teams, were deployed to secure the procession, though authorities said they have not monitored any specific threat.

Aside from ensuring safety and order, police worked to clear the streets in front of the carriage bearing the statue. Guns and liquor were banned and cellphone signals were jammed in parts of Manila.

Devotees who were pushed back when they tried to touch the statue complained, but despite the security and the tropical heat, mobs of people dangerously squeezed into a tight pack of humanity around the carriage.

They threw small towels at volunteers on the carriage for them to wipe parts of the statue and toss the towels back, believing the Nazarene's powers can cure ailments and do other miracles.

Dozens of people fainted or sustained injuries and were carried away on stretchers by Red Cross volunteers.
Millions of Filipino Catholics gathered in Manila on Thursday to offer prayers before rushing to touch the statue of the Black Nazarene during an annual festival

The display of religious fervor by largely poor Filipinos is one of the largest Catholic festivals in the world, and one of Asia's biggest religious events. Pictured: People climb on top of a statue of Black Nazarene as it parades through the streets

Worshippers dress in purple - the colour associated with Nazarene - before rushing to touch a statue which they believe will grant them favours and cure disease

This year prayers were offered for peace in the Middle East as tensions continued between the US and Iran, with many Filipinos working in the region as overseas labour

Pope Innocent X granted recognition to the lay Confraternity of Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno, which kept the statue, for the promotion of Christianity through the icon - leading to the belief that the statue itself has miraculous powers

Filipino devotees carry an injured woman to nearby paramedics for treatment after she collapsed amid the throng of people while trying to touch the holy statue

Devotees move a man on a stretcher to a safe area during the annual religious procession in honour of the Black Nazarene

Devotees believe that the Black Nazarene grant them favors and cure their diseases whenever they touch the statue

Crowds of mostly-barefoot Catholic Filipinos rush to touch a life-sized replica of the statue of Black Nazarene (right) as it is parade through the streets of Manila

Catholic devotees participate the annual celebration of the Black Nazarene in Manila in the hopes that their prayers will help to cure disease and bring them favours

The Black Nazarene statue is housed within the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Manila but a copy is brought out three times a year for festivals, the largest of which occurs on January 9 - the date it was originally taken to the basilica