Israeli Ambassador to Vatican City Visits Rockhurst University

Like many foreign ambassadors, Zion Evrony, Ph.D., has feet in two different worlds.

But the difference, in his case, is how unique those worlds are. As the ambassador from the Jewish state of Israel to the home of the Catholic Church, Vatican City, Evrony has a singular perspective from which to offer insights.

The Visiting Scholar Lecture Series invites the public to a historic lecture by Evrony at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Rockhurst University’s Convocation Center.

“We are honored to partner with the Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee to host Ambassador Evrony at Rockhurst University,” said Rockhurst University President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran. “We believe interfaith dialogues such as this reflect how much we share in common and serve as the foundation for how much we can accomplish together for the good of all humanity.”

In his talk, “Conversations Between Jerusalem and Rome,” the ambassador will discuss the state of dialogue between Israel and the Holy See and will consider the history and future of this relationship.

Ambassador Evrony was born in Iran and moved with his family to Israel when he was an infant. He has made a career in Israel’s diplomatic corps. Prior to his 2012 Vatican appointment, Ambassador Evrony served in the United States as Consul General in Houston, Texas, where he received the Foreign Service and Civil Service Awards for Excellence in 2000. From 2006 to 2010, he served as Israel’s ambassador to Ireland, where he oversaw a growing trade relationship between the two countries that has risen to more than half a billion dollars a year.

While in Vatican City, Ambassador Evrony has worked toward implementing a financial agreement, as well as enhancing the cultivation of academic and cultural exchanges. He also has contributed to the development of a partnership with the Holy See for combating anti-Semitism.

The ambassador attended Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science and a master’s degree before completing his doctorate in 1986 in the field of international relations. Ambassador Evrony’s wife, Rita, is a social worker; they have three children.

The lecture is presented in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee. To register for this free, public lecture and reception, call 816-501-4828 or e-mail cynthia.cartwright@rockhurst.edu. The Convocation Center is located on the Rockhurst University campus at 54th Street and Troost Avenue. For the exact location, go to www.rockhurst.edu/rockhurst-map.