Old Roman palace became basilica

Editor's note: Second in a series on the sacred places and tombs of saints included in The Compass pilgrimage to Rome and Paris that retired Green Bay Bishop Robert Banks will lead May 3-13.

By Tony Staley

	Sites of Tour Pilgrimage to Rome and Paris
	What: The Compass tour of Paris/Rome Where: May 3-13, 2008 What: Bishop Robert Banks will lead a tour of holy sites in Paris and Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica Information: Call Amy Kawula, Compass marketing manager, at 1-877-500-3580, ext. 8212 or check out this pilgrimage page

The first day of touring in Rome will include a stop at St. John Lateran Basilica, the pope's cathedral, that is, the church where his cathedra or chair is.

As the cathedral for the Diocese of Rome, St. John Lateran is called the mother and head church for that city and the world.

Why does St. John Lateran have this title rather than St. Peter's? And who was St. John Lateran?

St. John Lateran is the pope's cathedral because it was the first official Christian church in the Roman Empire, given in 312 or 313 by the Emperor Constantine to the Bishop of Rome, Pope St. Milchiades (ca.310-14). It was originally a residential palace, belonging to a Roman senator. Work on the first St. Peter's Basilica didn't begin until 323.

Although a popular story says Constantine helped build the church, historians believe an already existing basilica - or great hall - was enlarged for its use. "Basilica" originally were public markets, governmental buildings or courts built around the Forum. After Christianity was legalized in the empire, they served as the architectural model for churches.

Pope St. Sylvester dedicated the basilica on Nov. 9, 324. Unlike the commemorations for the dedications of the other three basilicas in Rome - St. Mary Major, St. Peter's and St. Paul Outside the Walls - Nov. 9 is celebrated as a feast day.

As for who St. John Lateran was, there is no such person. Lateran refers the Laterani family, of whom P. Sextius Lateranus was the first plebian to become a consul. Another family member, Plautius Lateranus was accused of conspiring against Nero and his goods were seized. The property came into Constantine's hands when he married his second wife.

St. John, is actually a later title, referring to both John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus, and John the Evangelist, author of the fourth Gospel. Originally, the basilica was dedicated to the Most Holy Savior. The dedication to John the Baptist was added in the 10th century and the dedication to John the Evangelist in the 12th. The church's official name is "Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Ss. John Baptist and John Evangelist in the Lateran."

The basilica has experienced many disasters over the centuries, including earthquakes in 443 and one in 896 that almost leveled it; sacking by barbarians in the 5th and 8th centuries; and fires in the early and mid-14th century. During the years the popes lived in Avignon, France (1309-77), St. John fell into disrepair.

Restorations were undertaken by Popes Urban V (1362-70) and Gregory XI (1371-78), who decided to move the papal household to the Vatican when he returned from Avignon. Pope Sixtus V (1585-90) tore down the old buildings and built a new church. Pope Innocent X (1644-55) remodeled the interior and Pope Clement XII (1730-40) had a new facade built.

St. John Lateran has been the site of five ecumenical councils, as well as the signing of the 1929 Lateran Pact, which established the Vatican city state. The church itself contains a wooden altar tradition says was used by popes from Peter to Sylvester I. Six popes are buried in it, including Leo XIII (1878-1903).

(Staley is a former Compass editor and a member of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)

Next: St. John the Baptist