MANILA, Philippines -- A man died and about 600 were hurt Friday in a raucous Roman Catholic procession in the Philippine capital that has attracted up to a million devotees -- a prelude to a much larger turnout expected during next week's visit by Pope Francis.
Huge crowds jammed the streets and jostled to get closer to the statue of the Black Nazarene that's being paraded every year. The faithful believe the centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ carrying a cross is a source of miraculous powers that can cure ailments and provide good health and fortune.
Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Moreno said one volunteer accompanying the statue died of a heart attack. Gwen Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, said workers treated about 600 people for cuts, bruises and dizziness.
She said any emergencies will help the Red Cross prepare for the papal visit. At least 20 field hospitals will be established in Manila next week, including one with an operating room, she said.
"This is like a mini-papal event in scope," police Senior Superintendent Jigs Coronel said. "We'll be able to put to a test our security plans, crowd control, anti-crime measures, emergency and medical response."
The wooden statue of Christ, crowned with thorns, is believed to have been brought from Mexico to Manila on a galleon in 1606 by Spanish missionaries. The ship that carried it caught fire, but the charred statue survived and was named the Black Nazarene. Some believe the statue's survival from fires, earthquakes and even intense bombings during the Second World War is a testament to its mystical powers.
Police say up to 1 million people have joined or watched the procession. Officials and church leaders expect millions will show up for the Jan. 15-19 papal visit.
About 5,000 police were deployed for the daylong event Friday, with 1,000 military personnel on standby, Coronel said.
Crowds threw small white towels at volunteers manning the statue's carriage to wipe parts of the cross and the statue in the belief by devotees that the Black Nazarene's mystical powers will rub off on them.
Mary Rose Ricafort carried a small replica of the Black Nazarene as she followed the procession. "I want my father to get well," she said, adding he had suffered a stroke.
Joel Talaban, a 51-year-old storeowner, said he has been a devotee for three years and hopes that by finishing the procession "I will be able to give a good life to my children and keep them away from vices, and also to ask for our daily sustenance."
Friday's procession will take at least 15 hours to snake along 7 kilometres of streets before ending at Quiapo Church, home of the Black Nazarene in central Manila.
Associated Press writer Jim Gomez contributed to this story.
