The joy of canonization still fills the air in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where thousands of Catholics gathered in late October to celebrate the nation’s first saint.
Saint Peter To Rot, whose courage and fidelity have become symbols of hope for the Church and the nation alike.
“Peter To Rot now stands among the saints, living proof that holiness is possible in any corner of the world,” said Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB, a parish priest in Sabama and a long-time communicator, in an interview with LiCAS News on November 4.
“He is now part of the cloud of witnesses, cheering us on as we walk our own journey of faith,” the priest added.
Just a week after his canonization in Rome by Pope Leo XIV on October 19, 2025, 7,000 faithful filled the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby on October 26 for a national thanksgiving Mass in honor of Saint Peter To Rot.
Saint Peter To Rot, a humble catechist, husband, and father, was martyred in 1945 for defending the sanctity of Christian marriage under Japanese occupation.
The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Cardinal John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby, joined by Archbishop Maurizio Bravi, Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Bishop Józef Roszyński of Wewak, Bishop Otto Separy of Bereina, and Bishop Dariusz Kałuża of Bougainville among the concelebrants.
Seven Salesian priests from Port Moresby also joined, invoking St. Peter To Rot’s intercession “for peace and the strengthening of family values” across their communities.
Following the Mass, a Catholic Expo brought together religious congregations, ministries, and lay organizations to share their charisms and promote vocations while deepening faith.
Food stalls featuring local produce turned the gathering into a celebration of both faith and culture.
The event was organized by the Catholic Professionals Society and the Archdiocese of Port Moresby, with logistical support from the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) under Governor Powes Parkop.
A Saint for the World
In his homily, Bishop Roszyński described St. Peter To Rot as “a powerful testament to living one’s faith with integrity in the face of adversity.”
He reminded the faithful that the martyred catechist “placed God above all human demands, even at the cost of his life,” becoming not only a saint for Papua New Guinea but “a saint and martyr for the entire world, the first indigenous saint of the Pacific.”
Bishop Roszyński linked the celebration to the Jubilee Year 2025, marking both the nation’s 50th anniversary and the universal Church’s jubilee.
“Despite our 800 tribes, we have been united as one nation,” he said. “We learn from our failures, progress through our faith, and thank God for our people, languages, cultures, and natural resources. Saint Peter To Rot is a light emerging from the Pacific, inspiring us to live holy lives.”
He recalled Pope John Paul II’s words during his 1995 visit to PNG, calling Peter To Rot “a beacon shining bright—a signal fire leading you to hold aloft the noble ideals which inspired him: faith in God, love of family, service of neighbor, and unswerving courage in the face of trials and sacrifice.”
Gratitude for Mission and Growth
In his Thanksgiving message, Cardinal Ribat expressed joy for “the many blessings” the Church in Papua New Guinea has received. “There are over two million Catholic faithful in our country,” he said.
“We have grown from a missionary Church to a local Church recognized by the Universal Church—first with the appointment of a cardinal in 2016, and now with the canonization of Saint Peter To Rot,” the prelate added.
He recalled the sacrifices of early missionaries—the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), the Marists, and the Society of the Divine Word (SVD)—who established mission centers, schools, and hospitals that shaped both the faith and the future of the nation.
Cardinal Ribat also highlighted the vitality of religious vocations and the laity, noting that the canonization “offers us an opportunity to renew our appreciation for the vital contribution of the laity in the Church.”
Governor Powes Parkop, addressing the gathering, praised the Catholic Church’s ongoing contribution to education, health, and social development, thanking religious congregations “for their service to the young, the needy, and the disadvantaged.”
As hymns of thanksgiving filled the stadium, the celebration became more than a commemoration of sainthood—it was a tribute to faith, nationhood, and unity.
“Saint Peter To Rot reminds us that holiness begins in the home, in service, and in courage,” said Fr. Pereira. “Let’s make it our plan too—to stay close to Jesus every step of the way.”
