Some thirty benefactors of the CARF Foundation, from different Spanish provinces, visited on Friday, May 29th
the Pamplona campus of the University of Navarra. Throughout the day, they got to know closely both the Ecclesiastical Faculties and the Bidasoa International Seminary, where seminarians and priests who receive financial support to complete their studies are trained.
During the 2025-2026 academic year, the CARF Foundation has allocated nearly 1.6 million euros to cover tuition fees and accommodation for beneficiary students. Thanks to the support of benefactors, 241 students from 44 countries on five continents have been trained this year.
– Supernatural University of Navarra emphasized during the meeting the international dimension of this formative work. The Rector, Maria Iraburu, recalled that the students who pass through these classrooms will later develop their pastoral activity in countries of the five continents, which makes this collaboration a direct contribution to the service of the universal Church.
Iraburu also highlighted the uniqueness of the Ecclesiastical Faculties within the university project, underlining their integration with other areas of knowledge and the commitment to promote dialogue between faith and the different academic disciplines. In this sense, he mentioned some formative initiatives that reflect this interdisciplinary orientation, such as the Diploma in Theology or the new double degree in Philosophy and Theology.
The event was also attended by Luis Alberto Rosales, general director of the CARF Foundation, and Antonio Robles, director of Student Services of the Ecclesiastical Faculties. In addition, the attendees were able to hear first-hand the testimony of two students who are being educated thanks to these grants: Fernando José Vásquez, Nicaraguan student of the Bachelor of Theology; and Francisco Javier Navarro, Mexican student of the Bachelor of Moral Theology.
The rector also had words of recognition for Emilio Forte, head of the Admissions Service of the Ecclesiastical Faculties, who will soon retire after years of work dedicated to welcoming and accompanying international students.
