CARF Foundation, 37 years supporting vocations in 130 countries

On February 14, 1989, the CARF Foundation (acronym for Centro Academico Romano Foundation) was established and celebrates its 37th birthday in 2026. 

The project had been in the making for five years, in 1984, when St. John Paul II encouraged Blessed Alvaro del Portillo to found the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, to promote the excellent formation of seminarians and diocesan priests and religious men and women from any country in the world, without their economic capacity being an impediment.

Although the University of Navarra's ecclesiastical faculties had already been working on the project since 1951, it was launched in 1989. 

“EThey are God's smile on Earth”.”

On the occasion of this anniversary, FundacionCARF has prepared a short video (1’ 15”) in which she recalls, first of all, the beginning: ”Inspired and driven by three great saints, was born in 1989, 37 years ago”.

And then, the mission: “to pray and promote throughout the world the good name of priests; we also seek to flood the world with diocesan and religious priests, because they are the smile of God on Earth, and the face of his mercy in our lives”.

“Nearly 30,000 students from 130 countries have benefited from comprehensive training. And they have returned home to give back the training they received,” the video continues.

And a request to the benefactorsHelp us form seminarians, diocesan priests and religious men and women to serve the Church throughout the world. Donate and deduct in fundacioncarf.org/donate and in Bizum 33420.

More than 1,500 bishops from 130 countries seek training assistance

According to the annual report 2024 presented last year, the CARF Foundation has been “collaborating with 1,256 dioceses and 300 religious orders” for 35 years. 

Indeed, “the CARF Foundation has firmly maintained its commitment to the Church throughout the world and to the integral formation of seminarians and diocesan priests and religious men and women,” said Fernando Martí Scharfhausen, president of the CARF Foundation, at the presentation of the report.

Currently, more than 1,500 bishops and generals of religious orders from 130 countries want some of their priests, seminarians or religious to study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome or in the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra. They complete their human and spiritual formation in the international seminaries Sedes Sapientiae (Rome) and Bidasoa (Pamplona) and in other priestly residences and colleges up to 17 buildings.