The Papal Archbasilica of St. John in the Lateran (Italian:
Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano), commonly known as St. John Lateran Archbasilica, St. John Lateran Basilica, St. John Lateran, or just The Lateran Basilica, is the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Roman Pontiff. It is the oldest and ranks first among the five Papal Basilicas of the world and the four Major Basilicas of Rome (all of which are also Papal basilicas), being the oldest church in the West and having the Cathedra of the Bishop of Rome. It has the title of ecumenical mother church among Roman Catholics. The current archpriest is Agostino Vallini, Cardinal Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome
. The President of the French Republic, currently François Hollande, is
ex officio the "first and only honorary canon" of the Archbasilica, a title held by the heads of state of France since King Henry IV.
The large inscription on the façade reads in Latin:
Clemens XII Pont Max Anno V Christo Salvatori In Hon SS Ioan Bapt et Evang; which a highly abbreviated inscription translated as "Pope Clement XII,
in the fifth year of his reign, dedicated this building to Christ the
Savior, in honor of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist". This is because the Archbasilica, as indicated by its full title was originally dedicated to Christ the Savior, with the
co-dedications to the two St. Johns being made centuries later. As the
cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, it ranks above all other churches in
the Catholic Church, including St. Peter's Basilica. For that reason, unlike all other Catholic basilicas, it is titled Archbasilica.
This completed our trip to Italy and the last of the four major Basilicas of Rome.
