Philippines' Catholics display devotion to Christ statue, pray for end of pandemic

A Catholic devotee wearing face mask and face shield for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) kneels to pray while attending mass on the feast day of the Black Nazarene, outside Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines, January 9, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

MANILA (Reuters) - Thousands of Catholic devotees observed physical distancing as they queued for Saturday morning masses in the Philippine capital to celebratate a centuries-old black wooden statue of Jesus Christ believed to bring miracles to the faithful.

With the coronavirus pandemic afflicting the country, authorities cancelled an annual procession of the life-sized image of the "Black Nazarene", the country's largest religious event that draws millions of devotees in an annual ritual observed for 200 years.