Pope Leo XIV and the Lateran Basilica

The Pope is both the Head of the Catholic Church worldwide and the Bishop of the Diocese of Rome.  As a Bishop, the Pope has a Basilica from which he officiates his diocese.   The seat (cathedra) of Bishop of Rome is the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.  

Commonly referred to as the Basilica of St. John Lateran or the Lateran Basilica, the full title of this magnificent house of worship is the Archbasilica of The Most Holy Saviour and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.  Construction was begun early in the 4th Century.   The Basilica was consecrated in 324 by Pope Sylvester I who  dedicated it to The Most Holy Saviour.  It was the first Christian basilica in Rome. Pope Sergius III further dedicated it to St. John the Baptist in the 9th Century and Pope Lucius II dedicated it to St. John the Evangelist as well in the 12th Century.  Over the centuries, the basilica has been expanded and renovated at various times.  It is the head church of Rome and the seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome.  Five ecumenical councils were held here in the medieval and Renaissance times.  The basilica is 130 meters long and contains the tombs of several popes, including Martin V.  The Lateran Basilica is one of the four major pilgrimage basilicas for the Jubilee Year, the others being the Basilicas of St. Peter, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls.  The Lateran Basilica is often said to be “the Mother Church of All the Churches in the World.”  Across the street is the shrine that holds the Scala Sancta - the Holy Steps - upon which Jesus Our Lord walked when brought before Pontius Pilate.

If you are unable to visit the Lateran Basilica in person, the Vatican website provides a virtual experience https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html 

On Sunday, 25 May 2025, our new Pope formally took possession of his seat (cathedra) at the Basilica of St. John Lateran as Bishop of Rome.  One of the readings for this Sunday Mass discussed the Council of Jerusalem, when the early Church considered how to incorporate the non-Jewish believers in Christ into a faith movement which had evolved from Judaism (Acts 15:1-2. 22-29).  In commenting upon this pivotal moment in Church history, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in this decision-making.  From this episode, we can derive an important lesson about our faith.  “Naturally, the more we let ourselves be convinced and transformed by the Gospel — allowing the power of the Spirit to purify our heart, to make our words straightforward, our desires honest and clear, and our actions generous — the more capable we are of proclaiming its message,” said Pope Leo XIV.

 Also in his Homily, Pope Leo XIV quoted three of his distinguished predecessors:  Francis I, Blessed John Paul I and St. Leo the Great.  He also quoted St. Augustine, saying “For my part, I would like to express my firm desire to contribute to this great ongoing process by listening to everyone as much as possible, in order to learn, understand and decide things together, as Saint Augustine would say, “as a Christian with you and a Bishop for you” (cf. Serm. 340, 1).”

In this Homily, we again see Pope Leo XIV drawing upon his Augustinian roots to proclaim the Good News and emphasizing his role of service as Supreme Pontiff and leader of our Church.  Most Holy Spirit please continue to guide this Pope and through him our Church.  In Christ Our Lord’s name, Amen.  

The full text of Pope Leo XIV’s Homily is posted online at https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/05/25/250525c.html