Our Lady of Sorrows Church

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard conducted a drill Saturday launching anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a U.S. pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphaël Sako has composed a prayer that the churches across Iraq will recite from Sunday, 17 January, in preparation for the visit of Pope Francis in March.

The Catholic bishops of the Philippines are calling on the government to ensure that the planned Covid-19 vaccination programme is accessible to all, with vaccine produced in line with ethical principles and which is administered respecting each person’s choices.

Father Silvano Galli, SMA, says the Togolese are praying and hope for political dialogue and a better 2021.

Pope Francis sends a telegramme of condolences for the death of Archbishop Oscar Rizzato, former Papal Almoner.

The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates Peace Sunday on 17 January with resources and contributions provided by Pax Christi.

Pope Francis expresses his closeness and assures his prayers to all those affected by an earthquake in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi where search and rescue operations are underway.

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City and USCCB committee Chairman for Domestic Justice and Human Development reiterates calls to put an end to the use death penalty as several US federal death-row inmates face imminent execution.

The head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

The Catholic aid organisation Misereor calls on the European Union to provide all people with fair and rapid access to vaccines against the coronavirus after it became known that only 13% of the world's population has already secured half of the Covid-19 vaccines.