Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

Mother and head of churches

St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome — the Pope’s own seat as Bishop of Rome. Tradition ranks it omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput: mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world. Pilgrims come here for the confession of the episcopal See, not only for St. Peter’s tomb across the river.

For the pilgrim

Walk the nave as a cathedral, not a museum wing. Pair it with the other major basilicas on the Roman Basilicas route: St. Peter’s, Santa Maria Maggiore, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.