Pope welcomes new Israeli ambassador

(September 28, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday welcomed Israel’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Zion Evrony. At a formal ceremony at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, south-east of Rome, Pope Benedict received the letters of credence from the 62-year old diplomat, who was born in Iran but emigrated to Israel in 1950. The father of three children has a degree in sociology and political science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he later specialized in international relations and business administration. Among the several posts that he has held were director of training of new diplomats, consul in the US and Israeli ambassador to Ireland from 2006 to 2010. Besides Hebrew, he also speaks English and Persian.