The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Rome’s most important church, recently celebrated its 1,700th anniversary. As the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the Pope’s seat, it holds a central place in the Catholic Church.
Since 1565, the Catholic Church has commemorated its dedication as a feast day, honoring its status as the “mother and head of all churches of the city and the world.”
Built after Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313, which granted Christians religious freedom, the basilica was dedicated by Pope Sylvester I on November 9, 324. Though St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist became its patrons in the sixth century, it is called St. John Lateran because it was constructed on land donated by the Laterani family.
To celebrate the 1,700th anniversary, the Diocese of Rome hosted a year of festivities, including concerts, Masses, and historical talks. The jubilee concludes with a Mass celebrated by the diocese’s vicar general.
Adapted by Jacob Stein
