Vance and Johnson to address March for Life

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson are expected to speak at this year’s March for Life in Washington, D.C., marking a significant show of support from the highest levels of government for the country’s largest annual pro-life gathering.

The 2026 march, set to take place on Friday, 23 January, will bring tens of thousands to the streets of the capital to reaffirm the dignity of unborn life and advocate for continued protections in law and culture. While the event has always drawn a strong turnout from grassroots activists, religious leaders, and students, this year’s edition carries particular weight as it comes amid renewed national debates over abortion legislation and state-level protections following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Vice President Vance, a Catholic and long-time advocate for family policy, is due to give remarks that highlight the moral and social case for defending life in the womb. Speaker Johnson, who has frequently cited his Christian faith in defence of pro-life legislation, is also expected to address the rally and signal the continued commitment of congressional leadership to opposing efforts to expand abortion access federally.

Organisers of the March have welcomed the participation of both men as a “strong statement of political will” at a time when legal and cultural pressures continue to mount against the pro-life cause. Jeanne Mancini, who leads the event, said in a statement earlier this week that the presence of senior figures “sends a powerful message that life is not a partisan issue—it is a human rights issue.”

As in previous years, the march will begin with a rally on the National Mall before proceeding along Constitution Avenue to the steps of the Supreme Court, where the legacy of Roe—and the future of post-Roe America—remain central themes.

Catholics from across the country are expected to attend, including large contingents from diocesan youth groups, religious orders, and universities. Many will participate in accompanying events such as Masses, all-night Adoration, and the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The Catholic Church in the U.S. continues to be one of the most visible and consistent voices in defence of the unborn, with bishops and laity alike calling not only for legal protections but for a culture that supports motherhood, protects conscience rights, and offers real alternatives to abortion.

The participation of Vance and Johnson reflects a broader willingness from elected officials to engage openly with the moral dimensions of abortion—and to speak from personal conviction rather than political expediency.