Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano — known in English as Saint John Lateran Basilica — is one of the five great ancient basilicas of Rome. The Catholic Church counts among them St. Lawrence outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, St. Peter and St. Paul outside the Walls. Originally called Basilica Salvatoris and Archbasilica of the Holy Savior, it is the oldest and ranks first among the great basilicas. It holds the title of ecumenical motherchurch among Catholics as it is the cathedral church of the popes.

Lateran Palace

The site on which the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano sits was occupied during the Early Empire by the palace of the gens Laterani. The Laterani served as administrators for several emperors; Sextius Lateranus was the first plebeian to attain the rank of consul. One of the Laterani, Consul-designate Plautius Lateranus, became famous for being accused by Nero of conspiracy against the emperor. The accusation resulted in the confiscation and redistribution of his properties.

Related Topics:
Early Empire - Palace - Gens - Administrator - Emperor - Plebeian - Consul - Nero

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The Lateran Palace fell into the hands of the emperor when Constantine married his second wife Fausta, sister of Maxentius. Known by that time as the "Domus Faustae" or "House of Fausta," the Lateran Palace was eventually given to the Bishop of Rome by Constantine. The actual date of the gift is unknown but scholars believe it had to have been during the pontificate of Pope Miltiades, in time to host a synod of bishops in 313 that was convened to challenge the Donatist schism, declaring Donatism as heresy. The palace basilica was converted and extended, eventually becoming the cathedral of Rome, the seat of the popes as patriarchs of Rome.

Related Topics:
Lateran Palace - Constantine - Maxentius - Pope Miltiades - Synod - Bishop - 313 - Schism - Donatism - Heresy - Basilica

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The official dedication of the Lateran Palace and basilica was presided by Pope Sylvester I in 324, declaring both as Domus Dei or "House of God." In reflection of the basilica's primacy in the world as mother church, the words Sacrosancta Lateranensis ecclesia omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput are incised across the façade, meaning "Most Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the city and the world, the mother and head."

Related Topics:
Pope Sylvester I - 324

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Twice the Lateran Palace and basilica have been rededicated. Pope Sergius III dedicated them to Saint John the Baptist in the 10th century in honor of the newly consecrated basilica baptistry. Pope Lucius II dedicated the Lateran Palace and basilica to Saint John the Evangelist in the 12th century. The church became the most important shrine in honor of the two saints, not often jointly venerated (but see Peruzzi Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence). In later years, a Benedictine monastery was established at the Lateran Palace, devoted to serving the basilica as a devotional to the two saints.

Related Topics:
Pope Sergius III - Saint John the Baptist - 10th century - Baptistry - Pope Lucius II - Saint John the Evangelist - 12th century - Peruzzi Chapel - Benedictine - Monastery - Devotional

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Every pope since Miltiades occupied the Lateran Palace until the reign of the French Pope Clement V, who in 1309 decided to transfer the official seat of the Church to Avignon, a papal fief that was an enclave within France. During the Avignon papacy, the Lateran Palace and the basilica began to decline. Two destructive fires rampaged through the Lateran Palace and the basilica, in 1307 and again in 1361. In both cases, the Avignon papacy sent money to their bishops in Rome to cover costs in reconstruction and maintenance. Despite the action, the Lateran Palace and the basilica lost its former splendor.

Related Topics:
Pope Clement V - 1309 - Avignon - France - Avignon papacy - 1307 - 1361

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When the Avignon papacy formally ended and the Bishop of Rome again resided in Rome, the Lateran Palace and the basilica were deemed inadequate considering the accumulated damage. The popes took up residency at the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere and later at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Eventually, the Palace of the Vatican was constructed, and the papacy moved in; the papacy remains there today.

Related Topics:
Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - Palace of the Vatican

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Pope Sixtus V tore down the original Lateran Palace and basilica and commissioned replacements. The rebuilt Lateran Palace and the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano became separate entities. Today the Lateran Palace is home to the Pontifical Museum of Christian Antiquities.

Related Topics:
Pope Sixtus V - Pontifical Museum of Christian Antiquities

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The square in front of the Lateran Palace has a red granite obelisk, the largest in the world, erected by Tuthmosis III in Karnak. It was removed to Rome by Constantius in 357 and re-erected in the Circus Maximus. Sixtus V had it re-erected in 1587 on its present site.

Related Topics:
Obelisk - Tuthmosis III - Karnak - Constantius - Circus Maximus

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The Lateran Palace has also been the site of five Ecumenical councils. See Lateran councils.

Related Topics:
Ecumenical council - Lateran council

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