Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the oldest and highest ranking of the four major basilicas in Rome. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Holy Father. The Basilica contains many famous statues, including a collection of statues of the Apostles. It also has six extant tombs of Popes, ranging from the 11th century to Pope Leo XIII. The Lateran Basilica is also called, “mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.”