Vice Postulator of Blessed Peter Torot’s Canonization Offers Words of Gratitude to the Holy Father

Vatican City, October 19, 2025 — The Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonization of

Blessed Peter Torot, Rev. Fr. Tomás Ravaioli, IVE, has expressed profound gratitude to His

Holiness Pope Leo XIV following the canonization ceremony held today at St. Peter’s

Basilica in the Vatican.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and Rev. Fr. Tomas Ravaioli, IVE, share a moment of thanksgiving

The canonization marks a historic moment for the Catholic faithful of Papua New Guinea and the universal Church. Peter Torot, a dedicated catechist and martyr from the Archdiocese of Rabaul, is now formally recognized as a Saint of the Catholic Church, honoring his unwavering witness to the Gospel and his sacrifice in defense of the faith during World War II.

Speaking shortly after the solemn liturgy, Rev. Fr. Ravaioli conveyed appreciation on behalf

of the Postulation, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon

Islands, the faithful of Rabaul, and the wider Catholic community across the Pacific.

“We are deeply grateful to the Holy Father for raising Peter Torot to the glory of the altars,”

said Fr. Ravaioli. “His life stands as a shining testimony of faith lived with courage, humility,

and charity. Today, the Church recognizes what the faithful of Papua New Guinea have

known in their hearts for decades — that Peter Torot is a model of holiness for the whole

world.”

During the ceremony, tens of thousands of pilgrims from Papua New Guinea, the Pacific

islands, Australia, and other parts of the world gathered in joyful celebration. Cultural hymns

and traditional garments brought a vibrant expression of the region’s faith, identity, and unity.

Peter Torot (1912–1945), a lay catechist, served the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in

Rabaul and was known for his moral integrity, pastoral dedication, and defense of Catholic

teaching. He was arrested by occupying forces for his fidelity to the Church and executed in 1945. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Rabaul in 1995.

Fr. Ravaioli emphasized that Torot’s canonization is not only a recognition of an individual

martyr but also a gift to the Pacific Church:

“Saint Peter Torot stands as a patron of families, catechists, and lay missionaries. His

example encourages the faithful today to live the Gospel with courage, even in the face of

adversity.”

Celebrations are expected to continue in Papua New Guinea with thanksgiving Masses,

cultural ceremonies, and pastoral reflections on the saint’s legacy from December 11 – 14, 2025

The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea has welcomed this historic moment as a renewed call to strengthen evangelization, family life, and lay leadership in the Church.