History:

• The first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrived at the Vatican (1506)
• Three congregations established in the curia: Rites, Sacred Consistorial, and Ceremonies (1588)
• Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska erected (1966)
• U.S. Supreme Court delivers Roe v. Wade decision which legalizes abortion (1973)

Notable:

• Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to lead the praying of the Angelus at noon.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Births:

• Cardinal Korec, SJ, emeritus of Nitra, Slovakia (1924)
• Cardinal Schonborn, OP of Vienna, Austria (1945)

History:

• The Union of Utrecht forms a Protestant republic in the Netherlands (1579)

Notable:

• When January 22 falls on Sunday, January 23 becomes the day of penance for the unborn. Also, as of this year, Saint Vincent's optional memorial is permanently transferred to the 23rd in the United States.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Births:

• Saint Vincent Ferrer (1350)

History:

• Pope Gelasius II elected to the papacy (1118)
• The Council of Basel suspends Pope Eugene IV (1438)
• A diplomatic delegation from the Holy See to the United States was erected (1893)

Notable:

• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Births:

• Edmund Campion (1540)
• Bishop McCormack, auxiliary emeritus of New York (1924)

Deaths:

• Pope Stephen III (772)

History:

• Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded (1816)
• Society of the Divine Word given approbation (1901)
• Diocese of Honolulu erected (1941)
• Pope John XXIII announces his intentions to call an ecumenical council (1959)

Notable:

• Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to lead his weekly General Audience this morning.
• Pope Benedict XVI is also scheduled to lead Vespers this evening at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls.
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Births:

• Cardinal Kitbunchu of Bangkok (1929)
• Archbishop Fiorenza, emeritus of Galveston-Houston (1931)

Deaths:

• Saint Gregory of Nazianzen (389)
• Pope Gregory IV (844)
• Henry Suso (1366)

History:

• The Council of Trent issued its conclusions in the Tridentinum, establishing a distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism (1564)

Births:

• Bishop Gumbleton, auxiliary emeritus of Detroit (1930)
• Cardinal Panafieu, emeritus of Marseille, France (1931)
• Cardinal Barragan, president emeritus of Pontifical Council for Health Care (1933)

History:

• Vatican opens 7 year trial against scholar Giordano Bruno (1593)
• Diocese of Salt Lake, Utah erected (1891)
• Diocese of San Jose, California erected (1981)

Deaths:

• Pope Vitalian (672)
• Pope Sergius II (847)

History:

• The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor is lifted (1077)
• Diet of Worms begins (1521)
• Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania erected (1961)

Births:

• Pope Clement IX (1600)

Deaths:

• Charlemagne (814)
• Pope Paul V (1621)