LATERAN ARCHBASILICA Photo Gallery
Rome Lateran Archbasilica photo gallery | galerie photo de l’archibasilique du Latran à Rome | Fotogalerie der Lateranbasilika in Rom | galería de fotos de la Archibasílica de Letrán en Roma | fotogaleria arcybazyliki laterańskiej w Rzymie | galleria fotografica dell’Arcibasilica Lateranense a Roma | фотогалерея Латеранской архибазилики в Риме | ローマのラテラノ大聖堂のフォトギャラリー | 로마 라테라노 대성전 포토갤러리 | 罗马拉特朗大殿的照片画廊
Apostles in the Lateran Archbasilica in Rome | Apôtres dans l’archibasilique du Latran à Rome | Apostel in der Lateranbasilika in Rom | Apóstoles en la Archibasílica de Letrán en Roma | Apostołowie w arcybazylice laterańskiej w Rzymie | Apostoli nell’Arcibasilica Lateranense a Roma | Апостолы в Латеранской архибазилике в Риме | ローマのラテラノ大聖堂の使徒たち | 로마 라테라노 대성전의 사도들 | 罗马拉特朗大殿中的使徒们
Rome Lateran Archbasilica photo gallery | galerie photo de l’archibasilique du Latran à Rome | Fotogalerie der Lateranbasilika in Rom | galería de fotos de la Archibasílica de Letrán en Roma | fotogaleria arcybazyliki laterańskiej w Rzymie | galleria fotografica dell’Arcibasilica Lateranense a Roma | фотогалерея Латеранской архибазилики в Риме | ローマのラテラノ大聖堂のフォトギャラリー | 로마 라테라노 대성전 포토갤러리 | 罗马拉特朗大殿的照片画廊
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, located in Rome, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome and serves as the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope, who is the Bishop of Rome. Despite popular belief, it is not St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican that holds this status. The Lateran Basilica, known in Latin as Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris, is the oldest and highest-ranking of the four papal major basilicas.
The church was founded in the early 4th century AD, following the Edict of Milan (313 AD), which legalised Christianity in the Roman Empire. It was constructed on land originally owned by the Laterani family, which later passed into the hands of Emperor Constantine the Great. He donated the estate to the Church, marking a significant moment in the transition of Christianity from a persecuted sect to a state-supported religion.
The original structure has undergone numerous reconstructions and renovations over the centuries, mainly due to fires, earthquakes, and general decay. The present building largely reflects the Baroque renovation commissioned by Pope Sixtus V in the late 16th century and executed by architect Domenico Fontana. The interior, however, was later redesigned by Francesco Borromini in the mid-17th century, blending classical and Baroque styles.
One of the basilica’s most important features is its papal throne, situated in the apse. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, it is the symbolic centre of authority for the Pope. This has earned the Archbasilica the honorary title of “Mother and Head of all churches in Rome and in the world” (Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput), which is inscribed on its façade.
Architecturally, the basilica is notable for its monumental façade, completed in the 18th century by Alessandro Galilei. It features a central statue of Christ flanked by saints and apostles. Inside, the nave is lined with statues of the twelve apostles, each set within niches between the colossal pilasters, contributing to the basilica’s grand yet harmonious atmosphere.
Adjacent to the basilica is the Lateran Palace, which served as the residence of popes for over a thousand years before the papal court moved to Avignon in the 14th century and later to the Vatican. The complex also includes the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), which, according to tradition, are the steps that Jesus ascended during his trial before Pontius Pilate, brought to Rome from Jerusalem by St Helena.
Today, the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran remains an active place of worship and a key site for major liturgical events, especially those presided over by the Pope in his role as Bishop of Rome. It is less frequented by tourists than St Peter’s, yet it holds immense historical and religious significance, representing the enduring legacy of the Church’s early presence in Rome.
