Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – The canonization of Peter To Rot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea, represents “a moment of joy and pride for all missionaries” in Oceania, as it confirms that “their sacrifice, commitment, and dedication have borne and continue to bear fruit.” This was stated to Fides by Father Christian Sieland, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Papua New Guinea, following the official announcement of the canonization date of Peter To Rot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea (see Fides, 31/3/2025).
Peter To Rot, a layman and catechist, died in prison in 1945 after being arrested by the Japanese who had occupied the island during the Second World War - in 1945. His figure, says the director of the PMS, “can be an inspiration for the universal Church, because he profoundly embodied the teachings of Christ.” The PMS director also describes how the country's Catholic communities are preparing spiritually to experience this moment of faith. In particular, he emphasizes the value for catechists - a key figure in transmitting the faith in Papua - of seeing one of their own recognized as a saint: "Without catechists, Papua could not be considered a Christian nation today," he states.
How is the Catholic community experiencing this announcement?
The Catholic community is experiencing this announcement with great joy and excitement. For many years the faithful in Papua New Guinea have been praying for the canonization of Blessed Peter To Rot. In countries like Italy, Poland or Spain people regularly experience the canonization of one of their fellow countryman or woman and over time this news no longer arouses the same enthusiasm. However, for our country PNG, a very young Christian nation, the canonization of Blessed Peter To Rot is a historic moment because he is our first local saint. Even for the entire Pacific Region Blessed Peter ToRot has become a hero of faith and a role model whose life and virtues have become the source of inspiration for many generations. So we are all looking forward with great joy and excitement to the canonization of our first local saint.
What does the canonization of To Rot mean for the missionaries on the island?
The canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot is also a great moment of joy for all our missionaries. In less than 150 years, from the pioneer missionaries to the current ones that are still active today, the missionaries have followed Christ’s great commission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and above all instructing our people to observe the teachings of Christ. Blessed Peter To Rot was martyred less than 50-60 after the Gospel was announced for the first time to his Tolai people. His exemplary life as a Christian student, who even considered priesthood, and later his life as a catechist and his commitment to his wife and family in a polygamous society have shown that the sacrifice and dedication of the early missionaries to not only sow the Word but also to form the people to be responsible, conscientious, and virtuous Christians really bore good fruits in the lives of many people. The most outstanding example of such a responsible, conscientious and virtuous man was Blessed Peter To Rot, who embraced the Gospel values and wanted the Light of the Gospel to penetrate and transform his culture, the lives and the hearts of his own people.
The canonization of Blessed Peter To Rot is a moment of joy and pride for all our missionaries because it is a proof, that their sacrifice, commitment and dedication has paid off. His canonization means that they did something right. Today PNG is over 90% Christian, even though roughly 1/3 of the percentage is Catholic. We wouldn’t regard ourselves today as a Christian nation, if it was not for the foundational work done by our missionaries.
How will the preparations for the ceremony actually take place?
Preparations for the ceremony will take place in different ways, depending on the different regions. The most vibrant and joyful celebrations will certainly take place in Rabaul, the home diocese of Blessed Peter To Rot. Now that we know the date of canonization, announced yesterday by Pope Leo XIV we are beginning to arrange programs. In my own parish, we will invite all our catechists from 10 so-called outstations to come to our principal parish church, and we will celebrate together by reflecting on the life of Blessed Peter To Rot, enjoy a common meal together and watch the canonization mass live on TV. The feast of Blessed Peter To Rot which falls on July 7th, will be celebrated by some communities, while others will postpone and combine that feast with the Jubilee of Catechists from September 26th to 28th.
What does the Church of Papua New Guinea think about the fact that its first Saint is a catechist?
I am not sure what the Church of PNG thinks about its first Saint being a catechist, and not a priest, Bishop or religious. But the general perception is that this is the best thing that could have happened to our church, that a layman and catechist will be proclaimed the first saint our young nation. Our church is first of all a church that has been built and spread thanks to the sacrifice of pioneer catechists, who walked and worked side by side with the first missionaries in the 1890s. Apart from being translators, they were not only catechists teaching catechesis but also teaching basic and general knowledge to a people that never had any written culture. So teaching the letters and the alphabet to a people coming from an oral culture was not an easy task. Often catechists were trained and sent ahead to unknown and unexplored territories to prepare the people for the arrival of the missionaries. Many of those young men remained in the mission territories, were adopted into the tribes, got married and had children, and most of them never returned to the birth places again. Moreover, many of our indigenous priests come from the families of catechists.
So to make it short, the canonization of Blessed Peter To Rot, a laymen and catechist, is providential, and reflects also the origin and nature of our local church, which was built upon the sweat and sacrifice of catechists, who were and who remain today indispensable co-workers of all priests throughout our country. Without my 14 catechist, I wouldn’t be able to take care of my large parish composed of 10 communities. I rely on their presence and cooperation in their outstations.
Similarly, Peter To Rot became the shepherd of his flock, when all the priests and religious of his time were put in prison camps by the Japanese. He stepped up the be the beacon of faith, hope and love during a time when everyone else was afraid to be a witness of faith. So I am pretty sure, that all our people, religious and laypeople, are happy and proud of the fact, that a catechist will become our first Saint.
What can the story of To Rot teach the universal Church?
I think Peter To Rot’s story can be an inspiration for the universal Church. Because he embodied the teachings of Christ. He followed Christ, denied himself, took up his cross and lost his life for Christ’s sake. His life and martyrdom is reflected particularly in a passage from the Gospel of Luke, when Peter To Rot had to fight against certain members of his own family, and against his own culture and tradition, even to the point of giving up his life for the sake of Christ. Thus, he was a true disciple of Christ. His story teaches us to have the faith and the courage to stand up in the face of evil and fight against the culture of death that surrounds us today in so many ways. His life teaches us that we should not be afraid of what can kill the body but the soul. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 14/6/2025)
