A Son of Papua New Guinea Ordained by Pope Leo: A Sign of the Global South’s Growing Significance

On the radiant morning of June 27, 2025, inside the resplendent grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, history was made for Papua New Guinea. Among the 32 deacons from around the world ordained to the sacred priesthood by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV stood a humble and radiant son of the Highlands, Fr. John Wai of the Archdiocese of Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. His ordination not only marked a personal milestone in a deeply spiritual journey but also stood as a beacon of hope and pride for the Catholic faithful of Papua New Guinea.

Ordained on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. John Wai’s elevation to the priesthood is steeped in bothliturgical significance and cultural pride. The feast, which celebrates the conception of the Virgin Mary free from original sin, symbolizes purity, divine favor, and unyielding obedience to God’s will, qualities that have characterized Fr. John Wai’s formation and mission.

A Humble Beginning in the Highlands

Fr. John Wai was born into a humble village nestled in the verdant valleys of Western Highlands Province. Raised in a devout Catholic family, his early life was grounded in faith, discipline, and service to others. His father, a catechist, and his mother, a primary school teacher, taught him not only how to pray but also how to serve, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and upholding justice.

As a child, he served as an altar boy at the parish, often walking several kilometers barefoot through the morning fog to attend early Mass. It was during these early years, kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament and watching missionary priests serve his community, that the seed of his vocation was planted.

“I remember watching the priests celebrate Mass in the old tin-roof church and feeling this burning desire that one day, I too would stand at the altar,” Fr. John recalled in a post-ordination interview.

Called to Serve

His vocation matured through years of prayer, discernment, and guidance from local clergy and missionaries. After completing secondary school in his home province, John entered St. Fidelis College, then Good Shepherd Seminary in Banz. His time at seminary was marked by academic excellence, pastoral zeal, and a deepening love for the Eucharist and the Church.

Recognizing his potential for global mission and theological leadership, his bishop later sent him to Rome, where heenrolled at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, a pontifical institution that prepares missionaries for service around the world. There, he was immersed in the heart of the universal Church—studying theology alongside seminarians from over 60 countries and celebrating faith in countless languages and cultural expressions.

His humility, pastoral insight, and devotion to Mary caught the attention of Vatican officials. In 2023, he was invited to join a special international formation program under the Dicastery for the Clergy, which culminated in his selection for ordination by Pope Leo XIV himself.

The Ordination: A Global Celebration of Faith

The ordination Mass on June 27, 2025, was a powerful liturgical moment. As Pope Leo processed into St. Peter’s Basilica accompanied by the sound of Gregorian chant, thousands of pilgrims, families, and faithful from every continent filled the basilica and the square outside.

Pope Leo, delivering his homily in multiple languages, spoke of the priesthood as a call to be both “shepherd and servant, prophet and healer.” He challenged the new priests to “never forget the smell of the sheep,” urging them to be pastors close to their people, especially the poor and forgotten.

When the time came for the laying on of hands—the sacred gesture through which the priestly order is conferred, Fr. John knelt with eyes closed, heart pounding, and soul open to the Spirit. As the Pope laid his hands on his head, heaven and earth seemed to meet.

“It felt like the Holy Spirit touched me,” he said. “At that moment, I knew my life would never be the same.”

Following the ancient rite, Fr. John was vested with his new priestly stole and chasuble—symbols of his sacramental authority. The newly ordained then concelebrated the Eucharist with the Pope, their first as priests of the Catholic Church.

A Melanesian Priest in the Heart of Rome

What made the moment even more profound was Fr. John’s cultural identity. Dressed in Roman clerical garb but carrying in his heart the ancient wisdom, hospitality, and strength of the Engan people, his ordination was a testament to the universality of the Church.

As a son of Melanesia, his presence among the global ordinandi reminded the Church that vocations flourish even in the most remote parts of the world. His ordination was broadcast live on Vatican Media, and watched by thousands in Papua New Guinea, from Wabag town to the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Highlands, from Port Moresby to Madang. At St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Wabag, where John once prayed in silence as a seminarian, the bells rang with joy.

The Archbishop of Mt. Hagen, His Grace Dr. Papa, who mentored John during his early formation, offered heartfelt congratulations.

“This is not just a victory for John and his family,” the Archbishop said. “It is a celebration for our diocese, for the Church in Papua New Guinea, and for every young man who dreams of serving God. May he be a shepherd in the image of Christ, and may he inspire many to follow.”

A Marian Ordination

The fact that Fr. John was ordained on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception carries immense theological resonance. The Virgin Mary is a powerful figure in the Catholic imagination of Papua New Guinea. She is seen as a Mother who protects, intercedes, and walks with her people through the jungle of life’s hardships.

Fr. John, a man deeply devoted to the Blessed Mother, said it was a divine blessing that his priesthood began on this feast.

“Mary was the first disciple, the first to say ‘Yes’ to God,” he said. “And now, like her, I want to say ‘Yes’ every day as a priest, to love without measure, to serve without pride, and to give without counting the cost.”

His first priestly blessing, offered moments after the Mass, will be given in Tok Pisin and local vernacular upon his return.

The Mission Ahead

Fr. John Wai will remain in Rome for a year to complete a pastoral theology program. His long-term goal is to return to Papua New Guinea and serve in rural parishes, especially among youth and remote communities where priests are scarce.

He also hopes to contribute to theological formation in seminaries across PNG, bringing with him not only academic insight but global pastoral experience rooted in humility.

“I’m a simple man from the bush,” he says, “but God’s grace has brought me far. Now it’s time to bring that grace home.”

Echoes of the Global South

The ordination of a Papua New Guinean by the Pope is part of a broader pattern reflecting the growing significance of the Global South in the Catholic Church. Today, countries in Africa, Asia, and Oceania are among the most vibrant and dynamic centers of Catholic growth. Vocations from these regions have surged, and their influence is being felt in every corner of the Church.

Fr. John’s ordination reflects this shift, a rising tide of voices from the periphery now praying, preaching, and ministering at the center. The Pope’s decision to personally ordain these 32 deacons, including a young man from Papua New Guinea, is a sign of inclusion and a vision of a truly “Catholic” Church, universal, diverse, and alive.

Homecoming and Celebration

Fr. John’s return to PNG is expected in mid-2025. The Archdiocese of Mt. Hagen is preparing a grand homecoming Mass, to be held at his home parish or the cathedral, with thousands of faithful expected to attend.

The Western Highlands Catholic Community, the Catholic Archdiocese, and the local clergy have pledged to support the young priest in his future pastoral assignments.

“We need priests like Fr. John who can bridge worlds, who speak both the language of Rome and the heart of the PNG Highlands,” said Fr. Lucas Tanda, a fellow Engan priest and long-time friend.

A Sign of Hope

At a time when the world is shaken by war, moral confusion, and spiritual hunger, the ordination of priests like Fr. John offers a sign of hope. His journey from a rural PNG village to the marble steps of St. Peter’s Basilica testifies to the power of faith, the reach of God’s call, and the richness of cultures that continue to nourish the Church.

As Fr. John begins his ministry, he carries not only the hopes of his family, but of an entire nation.