Papua New Guinea will soon have its first saint after Pope Francis approved the canonisation of local preacher Peter To Rot overnight.
Born at Rakunai village on the island of East New Britain in 1912, Peter To Rot led a Catholic mission during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
He was arrested and held in a Japanese prison in 1945 for practising Catholicism and was given an injection that reportedly killed him.
Last night, the Holy See Press Office published a notice saying Pope Francis had approved the canonisation of Peter To Rot, following a vote by cardinal fathers and bishops.
It comes not long after the pope was released from hospital after a battle with pneumonia, leading PNG leaders to believe the pope wanted to prioritise the canonisation.
Tomas Ravaioli, an Argentinian missionary in PNG, spent years collecting the documentation required for Peter To Rot to be recognised as a saint.
He was expecting feedback in April or May, but with the pope's deteriorating health he was uncertain about whether it would happen.
"He left the hospital only a few days ago, this is why we were not expecting this," Fr Ravaioli told the ABC.
"We thought [the pope] had other priorities. Instead, after a few days, he signed the decree for the canonisation of Blessed Peter To Rot.
"It was amazing for us … and honestly, unexpected."
Fr Ravaioli met Pope Francis when his Holiness visited PNG on a mammoth Asia-Pacific tour in September last year.
"He told me, in that moment, that he wanted to canonise Peter To Rot himself. This is what he told me in September last year," Fr Ravaioli said.
[YouTube pope mass]Fr Ravaioli and other Catholics across PNG are celebrating the news this morning.
"It is amazing, because this is the first saint ever in the history of Papua New Guinea," he said.
"I think people will be absolutely happy with that. And I think it will be a renewal, also, for our faith here in Papua New Guinea."
'First ever home-grown saint'
In 1995, Peter To Rot was beatified by Pope John Paul II during a visit to PNG and locals have been calling for him to be recognised as a saint ever since.
Papua New Guinean Archbishop Rochus Tatamai told the ABC's Pacific Beat program that PNG had waited 30 years for this day.
"This is really the first ever home-grown saint, a Melanesian. And so there is excitement, and also, I think there is a lot of joy," he said.
"Throughout the nation and the region, we have been having prayers in support of this process."
Peter To Rot was born to village chief Angelo To Puia and was one of six children.
A second-generation Catholic, he was trained as a catechist by missionaries on the island and later ran the mission when other church leaders were imprisoned by Japanese soldiers during the war.
Peter To Rot had strong views on marriage and opposed polygamy, which was a common traditional practice in his village prior to colonisation.
His views got him into trouble, according to some records, when the Japanese legalised polygamy in an attempt to build relationships with local Papua New Guineans.
Peter To Rot was reportedly labelled an "antagonist" for his position on marriage and was eventually arrested and given a lethal injection.
Giorgio Licini, a senior priest based in Port Moresby, said his sainthood would be a significant moment for the country, which was introduced to Catholicism less than 150 years ago.
"It is also significant because he is a lay person. He was a catechist, married man with children and leader of the community," Fr Licini said.
"Now we can enjoy this outcome and just wait for the date to be set for the ceremony of canonisation in Rome."
