Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran: Virtual Tour

We observe the feast of the dedication of this church, which is the Cathedral Church of Rome, tomorrow.

Link to the Website of the Virtual Tour of the Archbasilica

You can read about the history of the Basilica here

The Lateran Palace

As early as the sixth century, the area referred to as the Lateran, including the bishopric, became the beating heart of the body of the Church. From the eighth century, this area took the name of the Patriarchate, to indicate the complex consisting of a monumental portico probably dating back to the patrician villas here before the erection of the papal residence. Today, if one were to reconstruct what this area comprised, it would include: the basilica, the council chamber, the loggia of blessings, the median gate of the palace,

With the exile to Avignon, the splendor of the ancient Patriarchate, brought to light by recent excavations, gradually declined, before taking on new life with Pope Sixtus V.

After returning from Avignon, the papal residence increasingly moved to Saint Peter's Basilica, and the Lateran fell into a state of gradual deterioration.

The rebuilding of the Lateran Palace by Sixtus V, which was ultimately more symbolic than effective, was to no avail: in the centuries that followed, the Lateran Palace had various uses, but none permanent. It was the popes of Vatican Council II who perceived that it was good to differentiate the two organisms, one in support of the entire world and the other at the service of Rome.

Therefore, today the Pope has two Curias: the Vatican, for the entire world, and the Lateran, in his service for the city of Rome.

It was John XXIII who first affirmed: “Oh! If the Pope, bishop of Rome, could bring together all the diocesan administration at this cathedral of his, could gather here, with greater breadth, the whole organization of the Diocese of Rome!”.

Paul VI, insisting on the role of the pope as bishop of Rome and reorganizing the life of the Vicariate at the Lateran, brought this insight into effect in 1977.

The Cloister of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine

The construction of the cloister began in 1222, under Pope Honorius III, and continued until the years of Gregory IX, the time of Saint Francis. It was built by the Lateran canons – the diocesan priests who had adhered to the rule for a common life, inspired by Saint Augustine. The cloister itself, which is the open courtyard that not only connected the different rooms of their life, but also facilitated dialogue, fraternity, study and common prayer, is an image of this form of life. The mosaic inscription, which is still perfectly legible, states among other things: “claustri structura sit vobis docta figura”, i.e. let the very structure of the cloister be for you a “learned” figure of such a common life.

Chapels and Monuments

Among the many works of art, monuments and chapels in the basilica, the tomb of Leo XIII, the pope of Rerum Novarum, who wanted to be buried in the basilica, is worthy of mention. His tomb is above the door leading into the sacristy - the pontiff's body was smuggled into the basilica at night, in a period of anti-clericalism following the Unification of Italy.