Basking in Basilicas

Nov. 9, 2025

As we have repeatedly noted, there are four major basilicas in Rome, and each has a particular significance.  These are St. Mary Major, St. Peter, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, that we celebrate today.
   
The full title of this church is the Archbasilica of Most Holy Savior and Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at the Lateran, better known as St. John Lateran. The Lateran is one of the Seven Hills of Rome.  Although we usually think of St. Peter’s as the pope’s church, it is actually St. John Lateran that is the official church of the pope and is known as the Mother Church of the World. It is the Cathedral of the City of Rome and is officially the church of the pope as the pope’s first title is Bishop of Rome. As such, it is the most important church in all the world.

The Emperor Constantine gave the site to Pope Sylvester I, who oversaw the building of the basilica in 324. It has gone through extensive remodeling and rebuilding after two fires over the centuries, but there are extensive parts of the original structure that are still part of the present structure.
   
As the Mother Church of the World, our celebrations are of the unity of the Church, and of the pope. Let us pray for that unity and for Pope Leo XIV.
—Fr. Mike Comer