As the sole Orthodox bishop in attendance, the Metropolitan of Zambia and Mozambique addressed the Parliamentary Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, which was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and hosted by the Italian parliament in Rome from June 19 to 21, 2025.
During the opening ceremony presided over by the IPU president and speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Tulia Ackson, the metropolitan delivered the inaugural speech in Greek — the first such address in the IPU’s history. This choice carried strong symbolic significance, highlighting the enduring cultural and theological presence of the Greek language within the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. The speech also coincided with UNESCO’s recent designation of February 9 as World Greek Language Day.
The Metropolitan presented examples of religious diplomacy through collaborations between the Holy Metropolis of Zambia and Mozambique and state and parliamentary authorities in both countries. He discussed initiatives that promote social cohesion, peaceful coexistence among religious communities, and sustainable development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Metropolitan also emphasized his role as a vital link between the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). He advocated for closer cooperation between religious and parliamentary institutions on a global scale.
The opening panel also included the Ambassador and President of the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO, Ms. Simona-Mirela Miculescu; the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and former Foreign Minister of Spain, Mr. Miguel Moratinos; and the Secretary General of the El Khoei Institute (Iraq), Mr. Sayyed Jawad El Khoei.
The Holy Metropolis of Zambia and Mozambique and the National Assembly of Zambia are mentioned in the IPU’s 2025 Annual Parliamentary Report on Religion and Belief regarding their initiative to plant the Olympic Olive Tree of Peace at the Zambian Parliament. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Nelly Mutti, carried out this action jointly with the Holy Metropolis of Zambia and Mozambique and the National Assembly of Zambia. It is part of the Olympic Educational Programs being implemented in the country.
The relevant reference, which highlights the church’s contributions to promoting peace and education in Africa, can be found on page 64 of the IPU report. The report is available at the following link:
https://www.orthodoxtimes.gr/o-mitropolitis-zabias-sti-diaskepsi-tis-ipu-gia-ton-diathriskeiako-dialogo/
