PNG to witness historic canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot after 70 years
The Vice Postulator, Father Thomas Ravaioli, who spent 5 years collecting the documentation required for Blessed Peter ToRot to be recognized as a saint, says the talks on the canonization began 70 years ago.
And Papua New Guinea is fortunate to finally see the outcome of this journey.
“Everything began in 2020, when here in Papua New Guinea we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Torot's deification. It was in 1995, when Pope John Paul II came to Papua New Guinea, and it was in 2020, when we were celebrating this 25th anniversary, that we asked ourselves what the state of the canonization of Blessed Vita Torot is, because it is a work that has to be done here in Papua New Guinea, but also in Rome. So, we didn't know very much about the situation in Rome.”
“So it was in 2020 when the bishops asked me to go to Rome and to try to find out, and after I went there I had a meeting in the dicastery for the Causes of Saints, I was updated about the situation, and from that moment, in five years ago, 2020, I was appointed to be in charge of this phase of the cause here in Papua New Guinea. That is how everything began. “
Fr. Thomas said, working on putting together documents for the canonization was, a new experience, because it was the first time he was working in a cause of a saint.
“I came to Papua New Guinea 15 years ago. I was always working in a parish, you know, in villages, with schools, and so I've never been involved before in something like this. So, for me, it was somehow like a challenge, because I had to learn how to do the work. I was very lucky and very blessed because I found a lot of people in other countries, especially in Italy, who were eager to help, so they helped me a lot, they taught me how to do my work, and then after five years of hard work, okay, we are seeing the fruits, finally.”
"Peter Torot will be the first, not only for us but for Solomon Islands as well, I wish that Catholic people in Papua New Guinea could see Peter Torot as a mirror, and also they could follow his example, Torot was an ordinary man, not a Bishop or a Cardinal, he was married, he died when he was only 33 years old, so he was very young. " Fr. Thomas mentioned in the interview with NBC News, painting a picture of how Torot lived his life.
A lay catechist martyred in 1945 from Rakunai village in East New Province his story speaks of the unwavering commitment to his faith, particularly in his defense of the sacrament of marriage.
He opposed the Japanese-imposed practice of polygamy during World War II, which led to his arrest and eventual death by poisoning.
As Vice Postulator, Father Thomas Ravaioli served in Papua New Guinea for 15 years and spent years collecting the documentation required for Peter ToRot's recognition as a saint, spoke of the challenges encountered but acknowledges the support of bishops in the country who worked together with him as a team.
Archbishop Rochus Tatamai of Rabaul Diocese, who is also Torot's nephew, was one of many who provided support.
It was during the late Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to the country last year that the church asked for the Pontiff's intervention to speed up the process.
Fr Thomas, who travelled to Rome on Monday, said, “Over 80 Catholic faithful, including a few immediate family members of Blessed Peter Torot, are expected to travel to the Vatican for his canonization.”
The canonization will be held on the 19th of October at St Basilica around 10 o’clock Italian time, half past six in the evening PNG time.