On the eve of the 2026 March for Life in Washington Jan. 23, Pope Leo XIV issued a message to participants, expressing his deep gratitude for their “eloquent public witness” and imparting his apostolic blessing.

The Trump administration Jan. 22 announced a policy ending the use of fetal tissue from elective abortions in federally funded research.

Five cardinals bid their farewell Jan. 17 to Angelo Gugel, the pontifical butler and witness to modern papal history, who stood silently behind St. John Paul II for nearly three decades, and contributed to saving the pope on the day of the assasination attempt.

Indonesian Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur of Bogor, who previously declined to become a cardinal, has resigned amid allegations of mismanagement in the diocese.

John Allen, the editor-in-chief of Crux whose decades-long career in journalism defined him as one of the authoritative voices on the Vatican and the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 61.

A group including Catholic organizations announced Jan. 21 a new partnership — The Catholic Immigrant Prophetic Action Project — that aims to assist the Catholic Church in the U.S. in organizing a robust response on behalf of migrants and refugees in the country, including those with legal status, who are affected by mass deportation efforts.

On Jan. 19, quarterback Fernando Mendoza soaked in the glory of leading Indiana University to its first national championship, but he directed the attention elsewhere: “This moment is bigger than me,” he said afterward. “First, I want to thank God.”

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German bishops’ conference, who spearheaded the controversial Synodal Way during his six-year term, announced that he will not seek reelection when the bishops meet for the spring assembly in February.

The co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus said he has continued to call on the Trump administration to promptly conduct a pledged safety review of mifepristone, a pill commonly, but not exclusively, used for early abortion.

Franciscan University of Steubenville students Luke Reimer and Mary Mich were found shortly after noon Jan. 19, according to a statement released that same day by university president Father Dave Pivonka.