We love the Christ. He is our savior
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PORTOBELO, Panama (Reuters) - Thousands of Panamanians, many of them thieves, prostitutes and drug dealers, on Monday came to purge their sins at the annual Roman Catholic festival of the black Christ, Panama's wildest and most chaotic celebration of faith.
Some 50,000 people, mud-splattered and weary, made the pilgrimage to the Atlantic coastal village of Portobelo, 60 miles from Panama City.
Many Panamanians see the festival as the patron day of criminals who may ask Christ for clemency.
Thousands of worshipers fell to their knees to crawl to the Portobelo church where the black, life-size wooden statue of Christ is displayed. The statue is reputed to possess miraculous powers.
"I'm here to plead forgiveness," said a man who gave his name only as Miguel, his body dripping with wax from candles in an act of penance.
"I've done bad things. I've done drugs and sold arms," he said. "I'm asking the Christ to help me."