Papua New Guinea will receive its first visit from the Pope in almost 30 years this week, and some are hoping for some development on the country's first saint-in-waiting, Peter To Rot
His Holiness Pope Francis will travel to Port Moresby and Vanimo, a remote town in Sandaun Province on the border with Indonesia.
The last visit of a Pope to Papua New Guinea was John Paul II in 1995, who celebrated the beatification of Peter To Rot — the first PNG man to be raised to beatification, the step before sainthood.
Father Francis Meli, the Bishop of the Diocese of Vanimo, was also there.
"I was able to consecrate that mass of the beatification of Blessed Peter To Rot," he told Pacific Soul.
Who was Peter To Rot?
Peter To Rot was a Catholic catechist from Rakunai village in the East New Britain Province.
Son of a village chief, Angelo To Puia, To Rot was entrusted with the Rukunai parish during World War II.
He became a martyr when he was killed by the Japanese while in prison during the war.
Many Catholics have anticipated the late catechist’s canonisation to full Sainthood since Pope John Paul's visit.
"If he is going to be a Saint, he will be the first person from PNG," To Rot's niece Angie Kolita-Payne told Pacific Soul.
She described him as "a simple man in the village" and a "gentle person, dedicated to the Catholic faith".
"He died being so dedicated to his faith, and died a martyr for what he believed in," she said.
"Death didn't scare him. And he ... stayed true to the very end. It's not just for Rakunai village, but the whole of PNG. He's a man that died for his faith."
So where is it in the process?
In May this year, a Cardinal mentioned the possibility of canonising Blessed Peter To Rot during the Pope's PNG visit.
The canonisation is the final step in declaring a deceased person a saint.
But there's a bit of a process when it comes to being considered for sainthood, and it's still not quite there.
In July, Rabaul Archbishop Rochus Tatamai sent a letter to the people, explaining the need for proof of miracles attributed to Blessed Peter To Rot.
In it, he said the saint process was in "the final stage of the cause".
But to complete the process, it's necessary to prepare a series of documents for Rome, including a "long list of favours and graces received through the intercession of Blessed Peter To Rot".
"At this moment, there are three people working on this: two in Rome, and one here, in Papua New Guinea," he wrote.
"Without this, it is impossible for Peter To Rot to be canonised … It is not enough to tell the story orally; it must be put in writing."
What brings the Pope to Vanimo?
Vanimo is a small logging town on PNG's coast, 1,000 kilometres from Port Moresby, and sits close to the Indonesian border.
Pope Francis will travel to Vanimo on Sunday, September 8. There, he has a private meeting with a group of missionaries from the Holy Trinity Humanities School in Baro that afternoon.
Pope Francis always emphasises about the … disadvantages of people and those who are marginalised, and Vanimo is one of those."
The Pope's four days in PNG
The Pope's itinerary includes:
Friday, September 6: Pope Francis will arrive and stay at the Vatican Embassy in PNG.
Saturday, September 7: He will visit the Governor General of PNG and meet with state leaders at APEC Haus. Along with a meeting with the bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.
Sunday, September 8: Morning, Holy mass in the Sir John Guise Stadium. Afternoon: The Pope will travel to Vanimo, and return to Port Moresby that evening.
Monday, September 9: Meet with young people in the Sir John Guise Stadium. Farewell ceremony at 11:10am at Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport.
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