Martyred lay catechist Blessed Peter To Rot will become Papua New Guinea’s first saint after Pope Francis approved his canonisation.
On Monday, the Vatican announced the Holy Father had approved the canonisation of Blessed Peter, along with Blessed Ignatios Shukrallah Maloyan, an Armenian Archbishop who was martyred in 1915 for refusing to convert to Islam.
Bishop Anthony Randazzo, President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, said all the faithful of Oceania would welcome the announcement with joy and gratitude.
“This is a moment of great pride and joy for the Church in Papua New Guinea, whose faithful have long revered Blessed Peter To Rot as a model of unwavering commitment to the Gospel,” he said.
“His canonisation is a powerful affirmation of the Church’s deep-rooted faith in the region and a testament to the strength and vitality of the Christian community in Oceania.”
Peter To Rot was born on 5 March 1912 in then-German New Guinea. Both his parents had converted to Catholicism years before and he was taught the basics of catechism. Despite a local priest suggesting he would make a good priest, Blessed Peter’s father suggested he study to be a catechist instead.
He became a catechist in the local area in 1933 after studying for three years. He married in 1936 and had three children.
When Japanese forces occupied the nation in 1942, they interned all the foreign missionaries, leaving Peter in charge of his local parish. His courageous witness to the faith during these years led him to be imprisoned in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp, where he would be killed by lethal injection in 1945.
He was declared a Servant of God in 1986 and his beatification received approval in 1993. He was officially beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 while on a visit to Papua New Guinea.
During his visit to Papua New Guinea last year, Pope Francis reflected on the profound sacrifices made by many missionaries and martyrs in the region, including Blessed Peter.
“The people of Papua New Guinea presented Pope Francis with a portrait of Blessed Peter during the Holy Father's visit to Port Moresby in September last year as they prayed for news of his canonisation,” said Bishop Anthony.
“Today this is a wonderful occasion not only for Papua New Guinea but for all Christian people in Oceania, as we celebrate the life and witness of a true martyr who exemplified the call to live with courage, love, and faith in Christ. May this announcement bring renewed hope and inspiration to the entire Church in our region and beyond.”
The cause for Blessed Peter will be inserted in the future Consistory which will address and set dates for his canonisation.