MANILA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - A crowd of hundreds of thousands of barefoot worshippers gathered on Thursday in Manila for the yearly procession of the Black Nazarene, a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ. This event stands as one of the most grandiose expressions of Catholic faith worldwide. The streets of the Philippine capital turned into a sea of maroon and gold as throngs of devoted followers surrounded the Black Nazarene—a life-sized image of Jesus carrying a cross. Many jostled to touch or