In Dedicatione Basilicæ Ss. Salvatoris

Today is the Feast of the Dedication of Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran, generally known as St John Lateran. Whilst everyone is familiar with the Basilica of St Peter in Rome, with Bernini's colonnade, how many, even Catholics, are aware that St Peter's is neither the Pope's Cathedral nor a cathedral at all?

St John Lateran is the Church containing the Cathedra (chair) of the Bishop of Rome and the Mother Church of all Christendom. Its full title is the 'Major Papal, Patriarchal and Roman Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World'. On the archbasilica's front wall between the main portals is a plaque inscribed with the words "Sacrosancta Lateranensis ecclesia omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput", which translates to "Most Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the City and the world, the mother and head".

It was dedicated to Christ the Saviour by Pope Sylvester I in 324. In the 10th century, Pope Sergius III added St John the Baptist in honour of the newly built baptistery, and in the 12th century, Pope Lucius II added St John the Evangelist. So, despite its common name, St John Lateran, its actual dedication is to Christ the Saviour, with the two Saint Johns added later.

All Popes after the Church was dedicated were enthroned in it, up to 1870. Since it is not in the Vatican City, but on Italian soil in Rome itself, the 'Prisoners of the Vatican', after the Freemasonic conquest of the Papal States, were unable to use the Church until the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy in 1929.

Here, in all its glory, is the Major Papal, Patriarchal and Roman Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Saviour and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World!

The High Altar

The Apse, with the Papal Cathedra

The Nave

The facade