About Flores Island, Indonesia:
The name of the island has a Portuguese origin, as they landed in Indonesia in the 16th century in a quest for spices (the spice trade was a flourishing industry at the time). Flores in the Portuguese tongue means flowers. Flores Island is renowned for its striking natural attractions, including Kelimutu, a volcano famed for its three crater lakes that change colors. At times, the lakes are blue, green, and black; other times, they turn white, red, and blue. The island attracts tourists with its diving and kayaking sites, lakes, waterfalls, caves, and stunning landscapes. Flores’ westernmost tip, Labuan Bajo, is home to Komodo dragons and diverse wildlife.
As Indonesia’s 10th largest island, it is roughly similar in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut, and slightly smaller than the island of Hawaii.
Flores is unique among the islands of Indonesia. Although the country has a large Muslim majority (much larger than the combined Muslim populations of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran ), Flores Island has a large Catholic minority population, with over over 2,700 Catholic churches. This is unique in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, – Indonesia has demonstrated a long and firm comm Flores has a predominantly Catholic population.
Located in the Lesser Sunda Islands in southeastern Indonesia, Flores is also known as Missionary Island due to its Catholic history and heritage. Alongside the search for spices, the Portuguese also brought in missionaries to spread the Catholic faith in Southeast Asia.
The ministry of tourism has listed four annual events in its national event calendar. Two of them are religious and cultural: the Golo Koe Festival in Labuan Bajo, and the Bale Nagi Festival in Larantuka. Both these colorful annual festivals have drawn tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists from across the globe in recent years. With the Indonesian government pouring support in driving tourism onto the island to bolster the economy, the numbers of international pilgrims and tourists in Flores are seen to grow even more. The Catholic church in Flores is collaborating with the government to achieve the goal.
Ruteng Bishop Siprianus Hormat noted that tourism should be rooted on the religious and cultural being of the island.
“Tourism is essentially a pilgrimage, tracing the footsteps of God in the joyous encounter of humanity and the universe,” The Jakarta Post quoted him as saying. “Therefore, the diocese of Ruteng has designed and continues to promote holistic tourism in the region known as Bumi Congka Sae [the great Manggarai Earth] Flores, characterized by spirituality. Tourism must be built upon and evolve from local cultural roots and local spirituality.
Flores has more than 2,700 Catholic churches across the island. The island remains deeply Catholic, with churches frequently full and a high number of local vocations, particularly around the Diocese of Ruteng and Maumere.These churches are seen to become pilgrimage routes soon, further driving religious and cultural tourism.
Also interesting about this island was the discovery of the remains of the Homo floresiensis in 2003. This extinct species of small archaic humans lived on the island of Flores until modern humans arrived 50,000 years ago. Known as The Flores Man, the remains measure 3 feet and 7 inches in height. Excavated at Liang Bua cave. Remains belonging to 15 individuals were also unearthed in 2015. The people of this extinct species are also called today ‘hobbits’ as they resemble the fictional people in the novels authored by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Pope Paul VI visited Indonesia in December 1970 and Pope John Paul II visited the country in October 1989. Pope Francis made a pastoral and state visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, September 3-6, 2024. Before his papacy, Pope Leo XIV traveled to Indonesia for mission work. In September 2025, Pope Leo XIV met with the Indonesian Catholic community in Rome to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and honor the 2024 papal visit, as shown in this Facebook video and Vatican news report.
Catholic places of interest in Flores, Indonesia:
Flores has more than 2,700 Catholic churches across the island. Key, notable churches include the Gereja Katedral Kristus Raja (Christ the King Cathedral) in Maumere, Gereja Katolik Santo Yosef in Ende, and the unique St. Michael the Archangel Tourism Church in Nderu.
Maumere: Gereja Katedral Kristus Raja (Christ the King Cathedral). A central landmark and venue for major regional religious events. Ledalero Seminary (near Maumere): renowned as one of the world’s largest seminaries, training hundreds of future priests.
Ende: Gereja Katolik Santo Yosef A historic church reflecting the island’s long Catholic history.
Nderu/Lembor: St. Michael the Archangel Tourism Church (Nderu/Lembor): A popular “tourism church” featuring open-air, nature-integrated architecture with, benches facing hills.
Sikka: Sikka Village Church: An historic church built in the 1890s in a former Portuguese enclave, featuring teak columns and ikat designs.
Key Regional Events & Tourism:
Larantuka: Known for its Bale Nagi Festival and significant Easter processions (Semana Santa) reflecting Portuguese heritage.
Labuan Bajo: Hosts the Golo Koe Festival, promoting cultural and religious tourism.