Feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica: 9th November, 2017
THE ARCHBASILICA OF ST. JOHN AT THE LATERANS, is the oldest, not
only among the four Major Papal Basilicas of Rome, but among all the Churches in the West. And this is the
most important of all Catholic Churches, even more than St. Peter's because it
is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, that is the Pope's Cathedral. That is
why it is called the Archbasilica and it is known as the Mother of all Churches.
When a Pope is elected and consecrated, he takes possession of this Holy Seat
at a formal occasion, making himself the Bishop of Rome. The Basilica is named
so, because it was originally the palace of the Laterans, a family of Royal
Administrators. It was confiscated from them during the rule of Nero. But when Emperor
Constantine married Fausta, the sister of Marcus Aurelius, the Domus Faustae (Fausta's Palace) came
into Constantine's hands who in turn gave it to the Bishop of Rome. Later in
324 CE, Pope Silvester I transformed it into the Cathedral of Rome and
dedicated it to Jesus Christ the Saviour. Later
in 10th century it was rededicated to St. John the Baptist and once
again in 12th century rededicated to St. John the Evangelist. Thus the Church
has a principal patron Jesus Christ the Saviour, and two additional patrons,
John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Hence the name, Archbasilica of St.
John at the Laterans.
We celebrate the dedication of this Basilica today and the message is clear: that we are called to become the dwelling places of God, sources of life and wellness to whole humanity.
