Dedication of St. John Lateran

If you were to ask 100 people the following question: What is the name of the Pope's main church in Rome? I would guess the 100 people would answer: St. Peter's Basilica. WRONG!

Survey says, "St. John Lateran."

Remember, St. Peter's Basilica is technically not in Rome, but in Vatican City, a sovereign city-state within Italy. St. John's is the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Rome and since the Pope is the Bishop of Rome, his main church is St. John Lateran (aka the Lateran).

American Catholic tells us: The first basilica on the site was built in the fourth century when Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family. That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the church where popes were consecrated until the popes returned from Avignon in the 14th century to find the church and the adjoining palace in ruins.

Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646. One of Rome’s most imposing churches, the Lateran’s towering facade is crowned with 15 colossal statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and 12 doctors of the Church. Beneath its high altar rest the remains of the small wooden table on which tradition holds St. Peter himself celebrated Mass. Today, the church celebrate's it's dedication.

Unlike the commemorations of other Roman churches (St. Mary Major, Sts. Peter and Paul), this anniversary is a feast. The dedication of a church is a feast for all its parishioners. St. John Lateran is, in a sense, the parish church of all Catholics, for it is the pope's parish, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome. This church is the spiritual home of the people who are the Church.

The church is truly magnificent. My wife and I visited St. John's last year. Incidentally, a little Franciscan fun fact. When St. Francis was seeking papal approval for is order of lesser brothers, he visited Pope Innocent III at St. John Lateran.

Initially, Innocent did not approve. The following day, Innocent reported he had a dream of Francis holding up a tottering Lateran. He then approved Francis' order of lesser brothers. Today, commemorating that event, there is a statue of Francis and his companions across the street looking at the Lateran.