As the official ecclesiastical seat of the pope, Saint John Lateran contains the papal cathedra. The Lateran is Christendom's earliest basilica. Attached to the basilica is the Lateran Baptistery, one of the oldest in Christendom.

The Apostolic Palace of the Lateran (Latin: Palatium Apostolicum Lateranense; Italian: Palazzo del Laterano), informally the Lateran Palace (Latin: Palatium Lateranense), is an ancient palace of the Roman Empire and later the main papal residence in Rome.

Founded in 324, it is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica of the Western world. [1] . It houses the cathedra of the Roman bishop, [2][3] and has the title of ecumenical mother church of the Catholic faithful. The building deteriorated during the Middle Ages and was badly damaged by two fires in the 14th century.

Nov 8, 2024 · It’s a feast day for the universal Church, because it is the seat (the cathedra) of the bishop of Rome, the supreme pontiff. The Lateran — not St. Peter’s in the Vatican — is the cathedral of...

Nov 9, 2024 · The Basilica of St. John Lateran holds an unparalleled place in the history of Christianity as the oldest of the four major basilicas in Rome and the cathedral church of the Pope. Known for its remarkable architecture and centuries-old relics, this basilica is more than just a historic landmark—it represents the unity and devotion of ...

Basilica of St. John Lateran, the highest-ranking and oldest among the great papal basilicas of Rome as well as the oldest public church in Rome, having been consecrated in 324 CE by Pope Sylvester I. Though it is outside Vatican City proper, it nonetheless belongs to the Holy See.

Founded during the fourth century in honour of St. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, St John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of Rome and the most important of the four major basilicas.

Lateran, Saint JOHN.—THE BASILICA.—This is the oldest, and ranks first among the four great “patriarchal” basilicas of Rome. The site was, in ancient times, occupied by the palace of the family of the Laterani.

Once Rome’s primary papal residence, the St. John Lateran basilica is the oldest basilica in Rome. Its historical and religious status has earned this major basilica the name of “archbasilica” – a title given to very few basilicas by the Catholic church. But, what is the Lateran basilica?

The Basilica of Saint John in Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano) is defined as “the mother of all churches in the world.” It represents the mixture between the Pagan and Christian eras. You should visit the museum, which collects precious liturgical furnishings, sculptures, and ornaments of an ancient basilica.