by Paolo Affatato
Ruteng – “Let us continue to pray together for the victims and for all those who have volunteered to help. We believe that God cares for us. His faithful love never fails. This is our greatest source of strength as we remain steadfast in hope amid the devastation caused by the earthquake.”
Speaking to Fides, Msgr. Siprianus Hormat of Ruteng, a diocese on the island of Flores, addressed heartfelt words of faith and resilience to his community, which was devastated by the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the island on the morning of August 15, 2026.
The tragedy struck what is historically and spiritually regarded as the “Catholic heart” of Indonesia. In a predominantly Muslim nation, the island of Flores represents a true oasis of Christian faith, with more than 70% of its population Catholic. The vitality of the Church is reflected in a constant flourishing of priestly and religious vocations serving the Church in the world.
According to official figures, the death toll has risen to 68, with more than 213 people injured, while nearly 13,000 people have been displaced and are now living in makeshift tent camps amid an earthquake swarm that has already generated more than 2,100 aftershocks.
Major roads across Flores have been blocked by massive landslides, isolating entire villages and hampering relief efforts. More than 1,300 homes have been destroyed, schools rendered unusable, and dozens of churches and chapels damaged. Despite the rubble and the initial tsunami warning that affected coastal areas, the Diocese of Ruteng has responded with courage. Alongside the spiritual solidarity publicly expressed by Pope Leo XIV, the relief effort coordinated by Caritas is already fully underway, helping the population move toward a new dawn of reconstruction and hope.
Here is the interview with Msgr. Siprianus Hormat:
– Bishop Hormat, the earthquake struck the island suddenly. What is the real impact of this tragedy on the island?
“This earthquake has had a profoundly devastating impact. Lives have been lost, and the fruits of years of hard work by our people have also been destroyed: homes have been reduced to rubble, gardens and crops have been damaged, and churches and chapels have been severely affected. The future that our people had built with so much effort and in which they had placed their hopes has been shattered by this earthquake.
“What makes this tragedy even more painful is that the earthquake struck suddenly, without warning and without any possibility of preparation. In a matter of moments, so much was destroyed. What remains is devastation, tears and profound sorrow.”
– How are you experiencing these difficult days in your ministry as Bishop and Pastor of a community so deeply affected?
“During these difficult days, following the earthquake that struck on the morning of Saturday, August 15, 2026, I have tried to speak to the people with the heart of a Pastor, offering some comfort and consolation by visiting the displaced and the sick. I share the pain, fears and hopes of those displaced.
“I do this not only because many churches and chapels have been destroyed and diocesan buildings have also suffered damage, but above all because I share the suffering of my people and want to remain close to those entrusted to my pastoral care during this time of profound tribulation and trial.
“My episcopal motto, ‘Omnia in caritate,’ is a source of inspiration for my actions. At the same time, I urge everyone to remain united in faith and to face this difficult situation together with compassion, courage and hope.”
– Faced with such destruction, people could easily fall into despair. Where can they find the strength to start again?
“We cannot remain trapped in our sorrow. The question before us is: what can we do together from this moment onward? After being brought to our knees, we want to rise again with God’s help and through our mutual solidarity.
“This is precisely where the Christian faith becomes a profound source of strength. From a human perspective, everything may seem dark. We may feel helpless and overwhelmed. Yet even in the midst of our vulnerability, we can still experience God’s grace and his loving presence. “As the Apostle Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Romans , we believe that the God who conquered death through the Resurrection can also bring a new dawn out of the darkness of this tragedy. Even amid the devastation caused by the earthquake, we trust that God will lead us from suffering toward hope and renewal, recovery and light.”
– Immediately after the earthquake, you issued a strong pastoral appeal. What was the central message you wanted to convey to the faithful and priests?
“In the pastoral appeal I issued immediately after the earthquake, I invited all the faithful, together with the priests, to remain steadfast in hope. This hope is founded solely on the faithful love of God, who remains with us even amid this calamity and the darkness that has enveloped our lives.
“This hope is translated into concrete action through our commitment to helping and supporting the victims, as well as through the diocese’s joint efforts to respond to this disaster.”
– On a practical level, how is the community of Ruteng organizing the first emergency assistance for affected families?
“Through the parishes and diocesan institutions, we immediately began providing emergency assistance to the victims. We have made tents available to people affected in various parishes, set up an assistance point for patients at Ruteng Regional Hospital, collected aid at different locations and established assistance centers.
“These initiatives have been coordinated by Caritas and the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Ruteng. Equally important is the systematic collection and verification of data on those affected, in cooperation with the relevant government authorities. This information is essential to ensure that aid can be distributed quickly, effectively and fairly.”
– The aftershocks continue to frighten the population. What measures have you taken regarding liturgical celebrations?
“We have adopted preventive measures in response to the numerous aftershocks. I have urged parish priests to celebrate Masses in open and safe spaces rather than inside churches, chapels or other buildings.
“And the people are giving us a great demonstration of faith: the faithful are coming in large numbers, and the celebrations are marked by deep spiritual participation.”
– Beyond food, tents and material safety, what else does the population of Flores need at this moment?
“Of course, our response cannot be limited to material assistance alone. Spiritual and psychological support for the victims is equally important.
“Through our priests, men and women religious, and pastoral team, together with qualified lay people, we accompany the victims through a ministry of presence, trauma-healing programs and community prayer, which helps soothe their wounds and is like a balm for the soul of each person.”
– Looking beyond the emergency, how are you preparing for the future and reconstruction?
“We are already committed to looking beyond the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, moving beyond the current emergency, to begin planning for what comes next, with various rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in cooperation with the Government and other stakeholders.
“We continue to pray for the victims and for all those who are voluntarily offering their hands, their help and their energy to assist the displaced. We believe that God cares for us. His faithful love never fails.
“This certainty gives us the strength to move forward and to look to the future with hope, already seeing the good that will come.”
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