The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Story of the Dedication of St. John Lateran
Most Catholics think of St. Peter’s as the pope’s main church, but they are wrong. St. John Lateran is the pope’s church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides.
The first basilica on the site was built in the fourth century when Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family. That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake, and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the church where popes were consecrated. In the 14th century when the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, the church and the adjoining palace were found to be in ruins.
Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646. One of Rome’s most imposing churches, the Lateran’s towering facade is crowned with 15 colossal statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, and 12 doctors of the Church. Beneath its high altar rest the remains of the small wooden table on which tradition holds Saint Peter himself celebrated Mass.
More News
Saint Bernard
Man of the century! Woman of the century! You see such terms applied to so many today—“golfer of the century,” “composer of the century,”...Read more
Saint Pius X
“I was born poor, I lived poor, I will die poor.” These words were part of the will that Pope Pius X left...Read more
Statement on Nuclear Weapons
During his historic visit to Japan last year, Pope Francis declared that “the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just...Read more