The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, or simply St. John Lateran Basilica, is the Cathedral of Rome, which means that it is considered the mother of all the churches, with the title “Ecumenical Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Faithful.” Thus, the entire Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica by Pope Sylvester I back in year 324. The Basilica houses the “cathedra” or the ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Roman Pontiff, the Pope. That is why it ranks higher even than St. Peter’s Basilica, and it is the only one given the “Archbasilica” title. On its façade, there is an abbreviated Latin inscription, “Clemens XII Pont Max Anno V Christo Salvatori In Hon SS Ioan Bapt et Evang.” Translated, this means “Pope Clement XII, in the fifth year [of his Pontificate], dedicated this building to Christ the Savior, in honor of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.”
The Basilica used to be the Lateran Palace, house of the Laterani family. It got transferred to Constantine I, when he married his second wife Fausta. About the year 312, Constantine donated it to the Bishop of Rome. Initially, it was the official residence of the Pope until 1309. It was then rebuilt to be a basilica and became one of the four Papal “Major Basilicas” in Rome.
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