Papua New Guinea is poised to celebrate its first canonized saint: Blessed Peter To Rot, a martyred catechist killed in 1945. The canonization is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2025 — World Mission Sunday — at the Vatican, with Pope Leo XIV presiding.
On March 31, 2025, Pope Francis “cleared the path” by approving the decrees for To Rot’s canonization, a move widely reported by Vatican News. Pope Leo XIV then gathered the cardinals on June 13 to set the date formally.
Speaking about the legacy of his great uncle, Archbishop Rochus Josef Tatamai, MSC — archbishop of Rabaul — told Vatican News that faith in their home “was part of our daily life through prayer, Mass, and helping our neighbors.”
The Archbishop traces his lineage to Josef Tatamai, the elder brother of Peter To Rot.
“My parents and grandparents would tell us about his unwavering commitment to God and community. It wasn’t just history; it was a living example,” he said.
Archbishop Tatamai's grandfather hoped that one day there would be a priest in the family, and this was recalled by the elders in the village the day Rochus Tatamai was ordained a priest.
He added that To Rot’s witness shows “holiness is possible in ordinary life,” words he hopes will inspire families and young people across the country.
“His life taught me that faith is not abstract,” he explained. “It is lived, sometimes in the most challenging circumstances.
A nation excited
Other voices have highlighted the moment’s significance. The postulator team described the mood in PNG as “very, very excited,” calling the event “historic,” in an interview carried by Vatican News last month. Agenzia Fides likewise underlined the pastoral timeliness of his witness, calling To Rot “the saint the Church needs in these times."
For readers new to his story: Peter To Rot (1912–1945) served as a lay catechist in East New Britain. During the Japanese occupation, he supported Christian marriage, quietly sustained parish life when priests were imprisoned, and was ultimately killed for the faith. These biographical contours have been repeatedly summarized by Catholic outlets in the Pacific and beyond.
The timing adds a national layer of meaning. Papua New Guinea is marking 50 years of independence in 2025; civic and church leaders have been framing the canonization as a gift to the nation in a Jubilee year of hope.
Archbishop Tatamai has also shared family details that keep To Rot’s memory close: the catechist was one of four siblings — Theresa IaVarpilak, Josef Tatamai, Peter, and Gabriel Telo — born to Angelo Topuia and Maria Iatumul, among the first Catholics baptized in Rakunai.
“From a young age, I felt his presence in our home,” the archbishop told Vatican News.
Key timeline
- Mar. 31, 2025: Pope Francis approves decrees for canonization.
- Jun. 13, 2025: Pope Leo XIV sets the canonization date at a public consistory
- Oct. 19, 2025: Canonization on World Mission Sunday in St. Peter’s Square
As read in Vatican News, Archbishop Tatamai hopes the world sees in the soon-to-be Saint Peter To Rot “a guide for the present” — a husband, father, and catechist whose ordinary life reflected extraordinary courage.
