Cardinal John Ribat, Papua New Guinea’s first ever cardinal, is a prelate with a passion for social justice, the environment, and ecumenism who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016.

Born on February 9, 1957, in Volavolo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Ribat dedicated his life to the Church from an early age. After attending high school, he entered the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

He made his first profession in 1979, then studied philosophy and theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary of Bomana. He was ordained a priest on December 1, 1985.

His early career involved working as a parish priest and furthering his studies in Manila. He also served as master of novices for the Missionaries in Suva, Fiji, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing future religious leaders. In 1997 he served as parish priest and from 1998 to 2000 was Master of Novices in Suva, Fiji Islands.

Ribat’s ascent through the Church hierarchy was marked by several significant appointments. In October 2000, Pope John Paul II named him auxiliary bishop of Bereina and titular bishop of Macriana Minor. His consecration as bishop took place on February 11, 2001, and he was subsequently named Bishop of Bereina on February 12, 2002.

His leadership qualities were further recognized when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop of Port Moresby in April 2007. Ribat succeeded to this office in March 2008, assuming a pivotal role in the Papua New Guinean Catholic community.

The pinnacle of Ribat’s ecclesiastical career came in November 2016, when Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal. This historic event made Ribat the first cardinal from Papua New Guinea, a significant achievement not only for him but for his entire nation.

Pope Francis appointed him president delegate of the Synod on Youth in 2018.

Cardinal Ribat’s achievements extend beyond his religious appointments. Queen Elizabeth II conferred a knighthood on him on June 12, 2016, in her Birthday Honors list, recognizing his contributions to both the Church and society. He was awarded both the Order of the British Empire (OBE) as well as the rank of Knight of the British Empire. He is therefore also known as Cardinal Sir John Ribat.

The cardinal has been a firm believer in climate change theory and a vocal advocate for addressing it. He delivered an urgent message on “Climate Change, Sustainability and the Common Good” at the College of Mount St. Vincent, stating that climate change is no longer just a theory but a reality. He emphasized that “Mother Earth is crying, and we have to do something.”

Cardinal Ribat has also raised concerns about mining on the ocean floor, warning that it could damage marine life and affect people’s livelihoods. He has been working to share the experiences of people in Papua New Guinea and other Pacific nations who are said to be at high risk from the effects of climate change.

Cardinal Ribat, who comes from a family with Methodist relatives, has been a firm proponent of ecumenism. He has expressed pain regarding the inability of Catholics and Protestants to share Holy Communion, and appears to favor the same kind of inclusive yet controversial approach to Holy Communion as Pope Francis.

He has stated that “both Catholics and Protestants have to live with the pain they have because they cannot share Holy Communion during Mass” and believes that the Catholic Church, as the “Mother Church,” should “embrace all.” As chairman of the ecumenical movement in Papua New Guinea, he promotes dialogue with Protestant denominations.

Cardinal Ribat has engaged in dialogue with Muslims in his region, indicating a willingness to extend conversations about faith practices beyond Christian denominations.

The cardinal does not appear to have weighed in on other issues such as abortion or same-sex blessings; his career has been mostly focused on steady progression and increasing responsibilities within the Church, culminating in his historic appointment as Papua New Guinea’s first cardinal.