The feast of the "Mother Church" of Catholicism

Feast of Dedication of Basilica of Saint John Lateran

Updated November 8, 2017

By Christina Hermoso
The Catholic Church will mark tomorrow the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the oldest and first in rank of the four great basilicas of the Catholic faith in Rome, Italy, that include the Basilicas of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Mary Major.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran
(Flickr / MANILA BULLETIN)

Considered as the “Mother Church” of Christendom and the “Parish Church of all Catholics,” the Basilica of St. John is the main church of the Holy Father Pope Francis as the bishop of Rome. It is also the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome.
On its façade are written, “Omnium Urbis et Orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput,” which is Latin for the title “The Mother and the Head of all Churches of the City and of the World.”
Originally known as the Basilica of the Most Holy Savior, the first church structure was built during the 4th century on a land donated by Emperor Constantine which he received from the wealthy Lateran family. Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646.
As one of Rome’s most imposing churches, the basilica’s towering façade was crowned with 15 colossal statues of its main patron, Jesus Christ, and His co-patrons, Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, and the twelve Doctors of the Universal Church.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran every year.