"The CARF Foundation has firmly maintained its commitment to the Church around 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 2024 Annual Report.
More than 1,500 bishops and generals of religious orders from 130 countries request that some of their priests, seminarians or religious 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.
A total of 2,152 students have begun or continued their bachelor's, master's or doctoral studies in Pamplona and in Rome. This year 2024 they came from 84 countries.
In the 35 years of the CARF Foundation, which was celebrated in 2024, it has supported the integral formation of seminarians, priests and religious from 1,256 dioceses around the world and 317 religious orders.
As it did last year, the CARF Foundation is once again taking up the challenge. "The resources allocated to this mission have been close to six million euros. This figure, made possible by donations, bequests, regular dues and the endowment fund, is the result of the endowmentThe company's support, even in difficult times, not only continues, but also becomes a real sign of hope," says Martí Scharfhausen.
The CARF Foundation does not depend on public subsidies. The approximately 5,200 annual donors guarantee the independence and continuity of the institution, which has received the support of more than 70,000 individuals and companies.
Summary of data for fiscal year 2024
The primary mission of the CARF Foundation is to pray for priests and vocations; secondly, to spread the good name of the priest throughout the world; and, as a fundamental support to their work, to assist them in their integral formation.
In 2024, grants reached students from the following countries 84 countries. Since the inception of the CARF Foundation, the total number of countries of origin has risen to 130.
- Africa, 22 countriesAngola, Benin, Burkina-Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Congo, DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. Congo, South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
- Europe, 25 countriesAustria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Hungary.
- South America, 11 countriesArgentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
- Central America, 7 countriesCosta Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
- North America, 3 countriesCanada, Mexico and the United States.
- Oceania, 2 countries: Australia and New Zealand.
This year, between the two universities, the following have been published 86 doctoral theses with a cumulative total of 2,698 between Rome and Pamplona. With respect to books, the figure reached 2,698 in 2024. 61 new titles with a total number of 2,214.
Donations and grants
- Wills and legacies: 2,146,288, 22.63 %
- Periodic donations: 1,335,743, 14.08 %
- One-time donations: €3,324,716, 35.05 %
- Income and income derived from assets: 2,679,043, 28.24 %
- Total resources obtained in 2024: 9,485,790 €.
The CARF Foundation allocated 5,649,025 euros in aid, equivalent to 79.33 % of the resources applied, of which 77.58 % were contributed to the formation of seminarians and diocesan and religious priests; 1.75 % to the Patronage of Social Action. The Protectorate of Foundations of the Ministry of Culture indicates that at least 70 % should be applied.
The CARF Foundation always respects the wishes of its donors. Some specifically support social and pastoral projects in various countries, as well as activities aimed at the promotion and development of the humanities. The Board of Trustees for Social Action enables priests from all over the world to devote their time to the pastoral mission. 124,120 were allocated to different projects:
- Provision of liturgical objects to churches with scarce resources.
- Medical-health assistance for seminarians and priests displaced from their countries of origin and care and assistance for elderly priests who lack companionship.
- Sustaining worship in parishes with difficulties.
Alumni Bishops
Since 1989, 128 bishops and archbishops have been ordained, and 4 of them were created cardinals. In 2024, the following were ordained as bishops 6 alumni of Rome and Pamplona.
- Abel Liluala: Archbishop of Pointe-Noire (Congo), on 24/02/2024;
- George Jacob Koovakad: titular archbishop of Nisibis of the Chaldeans on 10/22/2024 and created cardinal (India), on 7/12/2024
- Mikel María Garciandía Goñi: Bishop of Palencia, on 20/01/2024;
- Reinaldo Sorto Martínez: Bishop of the Military Ordinariate in El Salvador, on 20/07/2024.
- Rubén Darío Ruiz Mainardi: Apostolic Nuncio to Benin and Togo. Titular Archbishop of Ursona on 12/14/24.
- Thomás Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu: Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu (Nigeria), on 5/01/2024.
Documentary
With the title: Witnesses, priest stories. In this video we tell the experiences of Pedro Pablo (Venezuela) and Ncamiso (Swaziland/Esuatini) who, thanks to the support of the CARF Foundation, have been able to be trained to bring hope and a lot of work to their dioceses.
His testimony, and that of the people who benefit from his ministry, reflects the transformative impact of CARF's support to dioceses around the world.
Thanks to the benefactors, hundreds of seminarians and diocesan and religious priests from poor countries receive a solid academic, human and spiritual preparation in Rome and Pamplona.
In less than half an hour the viewer will be able to understand and share with others the work of the CARF Foundation.
History of the CARF Foundation
The CARF Foundation was founded on February 14, 1989 under the inspiration of St. John Paul II and the impetus of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo with three objectives: to pray for priestly vocations; to promote the good name of priests throughout the world; and to assist in the integral formation of seminarians and diocesan priests and religious men and women to better serve the Church throughout the world.
From its inception to the present, thanks to the support of its benefactors and friends, the CARF Foundation has financed study grants to more than 30,000 students with limited economic resources from 130 countries to improve their intellectual, human and spiritual formation at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and at the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarre in Pamplona. Among them, there are 128 students who have been ordained bishops and four of them have been created cardinals.
