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Serving the Church on five continents

Discover the tireless work in 130 countries raising vocations for the Church around the world.
Carf-Serve-the-Church Foundation

Our job, to serve

In the unceasing work of serving the Church, more than 800 bishops from 131 countries want some of their seminarians and priests to study at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome) or at the Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies of the University of Navarra (Pamplona). These bishops wish them to complete their intellectual, human and spiritual formation at the International Seminaries Sedes Sapientieae (Rome) and Bidasoa (Pamplona).

By forming themselves conscientiously, they will be able to serve the Church and all Christians in the countries where they exercise their ministry and vocation.

Countries of origin

Meet alumni who were ordained bishops, and who serve the Church around the world:

Name
Position/Diocese
Origin
Studies
Bishop Simón Bolivar Sánchez Carrión
Apostolic Nuncio to Honduras and Archbishop Rosella, since 2025
Olmedo, Ecuador
Degree in Canon Law from the UNAV in Pamplona.
Msgr. Rubén Darío Ruiz Mainardi
Apostolic Nuncio to Benin and Togo. Archbishop of Ursona, since 2024.
Córdoba, Argentina
Doctor in Canon Law from the PUSC in Rome.
Bishop George Jacob Koovakad
Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, since 2024
Changanacherry, India
Doctor in Canon Law from the PUSC in Rome.
Msgr. Marcelino Antonio Maralit
Bishop of the diocese of Boac, Philippines, since 2014.
Manila,Philippines
Degree in Theology from the UNAV in Pamplona | Doctorate in Theology from the PUSC in Rome.
Monsignor Reinaldo Sorto Martínez
Bishop Castrense of El Salvador, since 2024
Zacatecoluca, El Salvador
Degree in Dogmatic Theology from the UNAV in Pamplona.
Msgr. Polito Rodríguez Méndez
Bishop of the diocese of San Carlos, Venezuela, since 2016.
Santa Barbara, Venezuela
Licentiate in Theology at the PUSC in Rome
Bishop Philippe Jourdan
Bishop Apostolic Administrator of Estonia, since 2005
Dax,France
D. in Philosophy from the PUSC in Rome.
Francisco Escalante Molina
Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Congo and Gabon, since 2016.
La Grita,Venezuela
Bachelor's Degree in Theology at UNAV in Pamplona, Spain
Bishop Abel Liluala
Metropolitan Archbishop of Pointe-Noire, Congo, since 2024
Cabinda, Angola
Doctor in Canon Law from the PUSC in Rome.
Msgr. D. Mikel María Garciandía Goñi
Bishop of Palencia, Spain, since 2024
Echarri-Aranaz, Spain
Degree in Philosophy and Letters from the UNAV in Pamplona.
Bishop Ricardo Aldo Barreto Cairo
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela, from 2019.
Panama City,Panama
Licentiate in Moral Theology at PUSC in Rome
Msgr. Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu
Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu, Nigeria and of Orreacelia, Tunisia, from 2024
Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria
Graduated in Philosophy, Management and Politics at UNAV.
Bishop Raimo Ramón Goyarrola Belda
Bishop of Helsinki, Finland from 2023
Bilbao, Spain
D. in Dogmatic Theology from the PUSC in Rome.
Msgr. D. Teodoro León Muñoz
Auxiliary Bishop of Seville, Spain, since 2023
Puertollano, Spain
Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology from the UNAV in Pamplona.
Msgr. Juan Manuel Cuá Ajacum
Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Los Altos, Guatemala, since 2021.
Totonicapán,Guatemala
Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the PUSC in Rome
Francisco José Prieto Fernández
Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, from 2023
Orense, Spain
Studies at the UNAV in Pamplona
Msgr. José María Gil Tamayo
Bishop of the diocese of Avila, Spain, since 2018.
Badajoz,Spain
Bachelor's Degree in Theology at UNAV in Pamplona, Spain
Msgr. Juan Fernando Franco Sánchez
Bishop of Caldas, Colombia, since 2022
Barbosa,Colombia
Degree in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (PUSC) in Rome.
Msgr. Alberto Arturo Figueroa Morales
Bishop of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, since 2019
Puerto Rico
Licensed in Sacred Theology by the UNAV in Pamplona.
Msgr. D. Waldemar Stanisław Sommertag
Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua, since 2018.
Więcbork,Poland
Postgraduate Degree in Canon Law at the PUSC in Rome
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