A lay catechist committed to marriage and family life

On Friday, 28 March, Pope Francis cleared the path to canonization for Blessed Peter To Rot, a layman who was martyred for the faith in present-day Papua New Guinea (png).

Blessed Peter To Rot was born in Rakunai, png, on 5 March 1912. His parents, who were among the first in Papua New Guinea to be baptized by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, educated him in the Christian faith, and he became a dedicated catechist. During World War ii, Blessed To Rot taught the Catholic faith to local communities. Defying orders from the occupying Japanese forces, he continued to carry out his apostolate in secret for some time. He was eventually arrested and killed by the Japanese police in July 1945.

Peter To Rot was a strong advocate for protecting the beauty of the sacrament of marriage and the family life, and he is an example of the important role lay people play in evangelization. Pope Saint John Paul ii beatified him in Port Moresby on 17 January 1995.