SW News: After a three-year hiatus, more than 1.6 million devotees took part in the Black Nazarene feast in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Stretching from January 6 to 10, as many as 1,621,930 Catholic believers thronged the city to take part in the ceremonies.

The Archdiocese of Manila had canceled this year’s ‘Translacion’, which is the traditional procession of the statue depicting Jesus carrying the cross in which millions of barefoot devotees accompany it. The procession was called off because of the pandemic curbs in place.

Usually, during the ‘Translacion’, pilgrims vie among each other to touch the sacred statue or wipe their handkerchiefs on it. According to Fr Earl Valdez, the vicar of Quiapo Church that treasures the statue, the number of believers taking part in this year’s celebration was less compared with 2019.

This year, one could see several believers walking barefoot with replicas of the Black Nazarene with face shields and masks. Along the streets of Manila, many families lit candles although the procession was not held.

Speaking to UCA News, octogenarian Marina Encarnacion said, “This is our tradition. Every year, we light candles near our windows and everyone would pray the rosary as the Black Nazarene procession progressed along our streets. The cancellation of the Traslacion will not prevent us from doing this.”

As many as 500,000 believers took part in the midnight Mass on January 9 marking the end of the celebration. The Holy Mass was offered by Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila. During the homily, he appealed to Catholics to remain steadfast in their faith in Jesus in spite of the absence of the procession and the kissing of the feet of the statue.

“Let Christ now walk with you instead of you walking with him. Let him walk with you to your homes, offices, and your families. Let him touch and kiss you instead of you wiping and kissing his feet,” he said.

The Black Nazarene statue was carved in Mexico in the 16th century and in 1606 it was brought to the Philippines by Spanish missionaries. It was Pope Innocent X who authorized its veneration in 1650. The statue has survived fires, two earthquakes, typhoons and Japanese bombings during World War II.