Embracing Ecological Conversion and Justice for the Poor: Indonesian Bishops’ 2025 Lenten Message
As we journey through the season of Lent, the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ende in Indonesia have released a powerful message calling for ecological conversion, justice for the poor, and a renewed commitment to Gospel values. Inspired by the words of Christ in John 10:10, they invite the faithful to reflect, repent, and take concrete action in the face of pressing environmental and social challenges affecting communities in Flores, Lembata, and Denpasar.
Signed by Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD (Ende), along with several other bishops, the pastoral letter speaks urgently to the over two million Catholics under their care. It addresses issues such as geothermal energy developments, human trafficking, child stunting, threats to agriculture and livestock, and more.
A Cry for Creation and the Poor
The bishops express concern over geothermal energy projects in Flores and Lembata, emphasizing the need for sustainable development that respects the environment and local communities. They propose alternative energy sources like solar power and call for a shift towards integral ecology, in line with Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’.
Confronting Human Trafficking and Injustice
The letter also highlights the need to combat human trafficking, particularly of women and children, as well as address issues like child stunting. The bishops stress the importance of a united response involving various stakeholders to promote awareness and education at the grassroots level.
Safeguarding Food Security and Rural Livelihoods
Threats to local agriculture and livestock, such as plant diseases and African swine fever, are also addressed in the message. The bishops call for science-based interventions, sustainable agricultural practices, and support for farmers and herders to ensure food security and rural resilience.
A Call to Hope and Action
In their appeal to Catholics and all people of goodwill, the bishops urge stewardship of Creation, defense of the vulnerable, and the building of a more just society. They call for personal and communal conversion during Lent, rooted in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, so that the Gospel may truly transform lives and communities.
This Lenten pastoral letter is a testament to the bishops’ dedication to the well-being of their flock and the environment. It is a call to embrace Pope Francis’s vision of integral ecology and care for our common home, and to work towards a future where all may “have life, and have it more abundantly.”
