Manila’s Millions in Misguided Devotion: Naturalism Masquerading as Piety
The Vatican News portal reports on January 14, 2026, about nearly 10 million Filipinos participating in the Feast of the Black Nazarene, highlighting the 31-hour procession of a fire-darkened 17th-century statue through Manila’s streets. The article emphasizes crowd size, barefoot pilgrims in maroon garments, and devotees attempting to touch the carriage carrying the image as central elements of what it calls “one of the most popular religious celebrations in Asia.” The celebration culminates in returning the statue to Quiapo Church, with government officials boasting about record-breaking attendance figures. This spectacle exemplifies how modernist structures replace supernatural faith with emotional pageantry.