The pope and the Vatican are inseparable in most people's minds But the pope did not always live there, in fact for almost 1,000 years he lived elsewhere in Rome On 9th November, that former home, Saint John Lateran Basilica, is honoured by the universal church.
Saint John Lateran is Rome's cathedral and also known as Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput, 'the mother and head of all churches' After his conversion, Constantine donated land belonging to the Laterani family to the church, where the basilica was built.
Pope Sylvester I consecrated the Lateran Basilica in 324 AD What followed was a tumultuous millennium in which it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.
In 455, the Lateran Basilica was looted by Vandals In 896 an earthquake damaged it In 1308 and 1361, destroyed it Yet, every time, it was repaired or rebuilt.
The Lateran Basilica was also the scene of many great synods and councils of the church These dealt with a vast array of issues Most notable was the Fourth Lateran Council, which dealt with transubstantiation amongst other important issues.
When popes are elected today, they travel to Saint John Lateran to take ownership of their church, the cathedral of Rome.
The Feast of dedication of Saint John Lateran was a local feast but was then expanded to the whole church. This was done as a reminder that we are one universal church.
'Every community therefore has the duty to carefully guard their holy structures, which constitute a precious religious and historical patrimony' Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of the Dedication of John Lateran Basilica.
'It is through charity in action that the face of our Church is shaped, making it ever clearer to all that she is a “mother,” the “mother of all Churches,” or even a “mom,” as Saint John Paul II said when speaking to children on this very feast day' Pope Leo XIV.