Catholic Bishops Call on Americans to Pray to End Abortion

Catholic leaders across the United States are urging Catholics to join a nationwide prayer vigil in January aimed at ending abortion and promoting a culture of respect for all human life.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced plans for the annual Nationwide Prayer Vigil for Life, set for January 22-23, 2026, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

The event, organized by the USCCB’s Pro-Life Secretariat in partnership with the basilica and The Catholic University of America’s Office of Campus Ministry, comes in the post-Roe v. Wade era as advocates seek to foster greater protections for the unborn and their mothers.

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“Together, we must pray to change hearts and build a culture of life as we advocate for the most vulnerable,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “I look forward to opening our Vigil with Holy Mass together with many other bishops, hundreds of priests, consecrated religious, seminarians, and many thousands of pilgrims.”

The vigil will kick off on January 22 with a 5 p.m. opening Mass in the basilica’s Great Upper Church, where Bishop Thomas is scheduled to serve as principal celebrant and homilist. That evening at 7 p.m., a National Holy Hour for Life in the Crypt Church will feature recitation of the Rosary and Benediction.

The following morning, Jan. 23, a closing Mass at 8 a.m. in the Great Upper Church will be celebrated by Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., archbishop emeritus of Boston. Pre-registration is required for clergy and seminarians attending in person.

For those unable to travel to the capital, the USCCB encouraged participation through local diocesan initiatives, such as special Masses and holy hours, during the same weekend. The opening and closing Masses will be broadcast live by the Eternal Word Television Network and livestreamed on the basilica’s website.

The prayer effort ties into broader pro-life observances, including the 9 Days for Life novena, a series of daily prayers and reflections running from Jan. 16-24, 2026.

Thousands of Catholics have already signed up for the novena, which focuses on intercession for an end to abortion and support for women in crisis pregnancies.

The vigil coincides with the federal observance of the Day of Prayer for the Protection of Unborn Children, established by Congress in 1988. Organizers described the event as a pivotal moment for spiritual renewal and advocacy in a divided nation, emphasizing prayer as a foundation for legislative and cultural change.