Tens of thousands of people from around the world filled St Peter's Square for the opening of the Holy Door and the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy. "I pray for reconciliation on the peninsula," said Sister Lucy, from South Korea. "I hope the pope's example helps improve the conditions of migrants,” said a Catholic Filipino. An Indian priest calls for a "stop the attacks against Christians."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – For Sister Lucy, a nun from South Korea, Anthony, a young Filipino, and Fr  Lawrence, a priest from the Indian state of Karnataka, the opening of the Holy Door and the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy are a sign of hope for peace for the peoples of Asia. Before this morning’s Eucharistic celebration, they spoke to AsiaNews about their hopes and intentions of prayer with respect to the Holy Year.

Sister Lucy, a nun from the Diocese of Daejeon in South Korea, was one of the tens of thousands of people who filled St Peter's Square. She was very happy to witness this "historic moment for the Church. I am in Rome to study. I have to finish my PhD, and when Pope Francis announced plans to celebrate the Holy Year I quickly did the math to figure out if I would still be here to see him in person. "

Now that the time has come, "I realise that this is not only a beautiful ceremony or a special moment; it is really a call to all of us to convert. I am praying that the mercy the pontiff always talks about will help the Korean people come together again, finding the path towards reconciliation. "

Anthony works in Rome, as a domestic worker. "I am from Cotabato, Philippines, and I would not have missed it for the world." His phone is constantly ringing. "It’s my family back home. I miss them a lot but I need to work, and here I am comfortable.”

“I hope that Francis’ appeals for taking care of migrants can improve the living conditions of those who have to go away to make a living. In my case, I'm lucky. I work and I am treated well. But I know many people who live in slave-like conditions, and that is not right. "

Fr Lawrence hails from Karnataka, southern India. "The mercy to which this jubilee is dedicated is important for my state and country,” he said. “Too often, it has been shaken by attacks against Christians and other minorities. I think that if we really apply the concept of mercy and brotherly love, these atrocities would end."

“I am sure that religion is not really behind the violence that is setting the world on fire. Instead, hidden interests use it,” the clergyman said.

In fact, “Although each religion is different, they all have a core of mercy. If we had the humility to listen truly to what the pope reminds us so often, the situation would improve right away."

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• jubilee
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