Hundreds of Thousands Join Philippines' Jesus Nazareno Procession

The annual religious event in Manila draws devotees seeking healing, peace, and blessings from the centuries-old statue of Jesus.

The procession, known as the 'traslacion,' honors the life-sized wooden statue of Jesus carrying a cross, believed by devotees to possess miraculous powers.
Organizers estimated over 220,000 attendees at the early morning mass, with participation expected to exceed 2 million by the end of the day.
Many pilgrims, barefoot and clad in maroon, prayed for personal healing, family health, and national and global peace, including an end to tensions in the South China Sea
Authorities deployed over 14,500 security personnel and blocked mobile signals along the 6-kilometer route to ensure safety during the event, which may last up to 18 hours.
The Black Nazarene statue, brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606, is a deeply revered symbol of faith for the predominantly Catholic nation.