Indonesia: Labuan Bajo bishop calls for ecological conversion in 2025 Lenten-Easter Message

An Indonesian bishop has called on the faithful to care for the ecology.

In his 2025 Lenten-Easter Pastoral Letter titled “Ecological Conversion: Caring for Creation, Bringing Hope,” Bishop Maksimus Regus of the Diocese of Labuan Bajo called on the faithful to embrace ecological responsibility as a vital expression of Christian discipleship.

Released on April 4, 2025, the pastoral message draws inspiration from Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on caring for our common home, and echoes the recent pastoral concerns raised by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).

Regus emphasizes the urgency of ecological stewardship, reminding believers that the Lenten journey and the joy of Easter offer a time to renew spiritual and environmental commitments.

“In the silence of Lent and the joy of Easter, we are called to care for creation and to bring hope amid the realities of ecological threats,” he wrote.

The bishop highlighted the natural beauty of Flores and Labuan Bajo as a divine gift entrusted to humanity. He cited Genesis 1:31 and Laudato Si' (95) to emphasize the importance of protecting the environment as a collective inheritance for future generations.

He cautioned that greed and social indifference threaten to turn these blessings into ecological and social disasters.

Bishop Regus reiterated the Church's opposition to the exploitation of geothermal energy in Flores, mirroring the previous stance of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ende. While geothermal energy is often considered renewable, he warned that its development in the island’s fragile ecological context poses serious risks. He urged government authorities to seek alternative, eco-friendly solutions such as solar energy.

The pastoral letter also addressed concerns over Labuan Bajo’s growing tourism industry. The bishop warned that without a firm commitment to environmental sustainability, tourism development could become a source of harm rather than hope. He stated that a profit-oriented model that overlooks ecological well-being could lead to environmental degradation, economic inequality, and social conflict.

In line with Pope Francis’s 2023 apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, Bishop Regus stressed that ecological conversion requires more than personal piety. It demands lifestyle changes, social solidarity, and real action from all sectors of society. He called for a synodal Church—a community that walks together in promoting and embodying care for creation.

His message included a pastoral appeal for concrete action. He called on Christians and citizens alike to reject exploitative and unsustainable resource extraction, especially in small and ecologically sensitive regions like Flores.

He voiced support for government efforts to secure economic justice for local communities through tourism and urged everyone to engage in practices such as reducing waste, planting trees, protecting water sources, and raising ecological awareness among the youth.

Drawing from Romans 8:19, Bishop Regus reminded the faithful that all creation “awaits the manifestation of the children of God”—those willing to take responsibility for preserving the integrity of the natural world. He invited everyone to see the Lenten and Easter seasons as a time of profound reflection and transformation, both spiritual and ecological. 

“The Resurrection of Christ is the source of our hope. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us care for creation and bring new hope to the world,” he said, concluding with warm Easter greetings to all.

The pastoral message strongly aligns with the wider mission of the Church in Asia and beyond to promote integral ecology, especially in regions like Flores, where natural beauty, cultural richness, and environmental vulnerability converge in urgent need of protection.