This Sunday, Peter To Rot, a catechist and father of a family born in Papua New Guinea and a martyr for the faith, murdered in 1945, will be canonized. official portrait of the next saintdisplayed this Friday in St. Peter’s Basilica, was commissioned by the Catholic painter from Malaga Raúl Berzosa, who told ACI Prensa the details of his creative process.
In order to weaken the influence of Christianity, Japanese authorities attempted to reinstate polygamy on the island, which Catholic missionaries had countered. Peter opposed this measure, defending the value of marriage.
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His resistance cost him his life, being arrested and martyred in a concentration camp, where he was poisoned and brutally beaten at the age of 33.
In 1995, during your trip to Papua New GuineaSaint John Paul II described the life of To Rot as “a beacon that shines brightly, a signal fire that leads you to raise the noble ideals that inspired him: faith in God, love of family, service to others and unwavering courage in the face of trials and sacrifices.”
Berzosa, 46 years old and recognized worldwide for his work in a realistic style and religious themes, explained that with his work of the future Papuan saint he sought to transmit that inner light that the Polish Pope spoke about.
“If the portrait manages to convey some of that bright inner light of Peter To Rot, and helps others strengthen their faith, then the work will have fulfilled its true function,” said the Spanish painter.
“I hope that the faithful see in his eyes not only a martyr, but a man full of peace, love for his family and fidelity to the Gospel,” he added.
For Berzosa, whose works They have reached the Vaticanthe essential testimony of To Rot lies in the conviction that holiness “can be lived in everyday life, even in the midst of suffering as was their case.”
In that sense, he assured that he wanted the lighting of the portrait to “be born from within the face itself, something serene that engages the viewer and seeks to convey hope.” Furthermore, the artist pointed out that the “light blue and green brush strokes” seek a warm atmosphere, with the color and composition as a whole trying to accompany “this luminous message.”
The challenges of painting the first Papuan saint
“The main challenge was to approach Peter To Rot’s own image with respect and truthfulness, for this I had some black and white photos, as well as a color portrait, based on one of the photographs, all of this helped me to create my painting,” he said.
In Berzosa’s portrait, To Rot is characterized with the traditional clothing of local catechists: white shirt and a kind of blue skirt called laplap not Pidgin.
“When the Japanese threatened the catechists and prohibited any apostolic activity for the catechists, the vast majority – out of fear – hid the cross. Peter To Rot was the only catechist who continued to proudly display the white cross that identified him as a catechist,” recalled the painter from Malaga.
“In one hand he carries the Bible and in the other two rings, in reference to his defense of marriage. A cross hangs from his neck,” he added. To Rot wanted to die carrying that cross, which would later be key to recognizing his mortal remains later. Behind the figure of the saint, you can see the landscape of his land at the time.
“I documented myself with photographs, traditional clothing and local references. Father Tomás Agustín Ravaioli, vice postulator of the cause, helped me in all this work,” Berzosa said.
Portray a martyr
The artist pointed out that the lives of the martyrs, despite often being short, are “full of meaning, given out of love and fidelity to the Lord.” He assured that he always seeks to convey the serenity of these witnesses of the Gospel in the most determining hour of their lives.
“I try to understand that mixture of strength and the peace of someone who gives their life for Christ,” he said.
“When I make portraits of martyrs, there is a special respect for the person portrayed. Their testimony transcends cultures and eras,” he concluded.
Andres Henriquez
I was born in Caracas in 1996. I have been a writer for ACI Prensa and a correspondent for EWTN since 2023. Since then, I have covered events in the Catholic Church in Venezuela, Latin America and the world. I have more than 6 years of experience in bilingual media. Furthermore, in Venezuela I have worked in various areas in favor of freedom and respect for fundamental rights in the country. I have been a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.