Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

The Lateran Basilica stands in Rome’s eastern quarter on land once held by the Laterani, an old Roman family. Beneath its nave lie the remains of a cavalry fort built by Septimius Severus in AD 193. Constantine the Great gave the site to the Bishop of Rome after defeating Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. Pope Sylvester I dedicated the first church here in 324, naming it for Christ the Saviour. The Lateran Palace beside it served as the popes’ home until the 14th century. The basilica is the cathedral of Rome and the mother church of all Catholic churches worldwide.

The building has been rebuilt and restored many times. Two fires in the 14th century left it badly damaged, and Pope Sixtus V rebuilt it late in the 16th century. The present façade was finished in 1735 under Pope Clement XII, whose name appears in a large Latin inscription. The high altar is said to hold relics brought from Jerusalem, including the Ark of the Covenant. Five ecumenical councils met here during the Middle Ages. The French head of state holds the honorary title of First and Only Canon of the basilica.

Inside, the vast nave leads to the papal cathedra, the bishop’s throne of Rome. Statues of the twelve apostles line the aisles, each set in a richly decorated niche. The confessio below the altar holds the relics of Saints Peter and Paul. The adjacent baptistery dates from the 4th century and still uses its original font. Outside, the square offers views of the Lateran Palace’s medieval walls. The feast of the Transfiguration on 6 August marks the basilica’s dedication to Christ the Saviour.