Basilica of St. John Lateran
The Basilica of Saint John Lateran is the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome or the Pope. With its official name, Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris (“Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour”), the Basilica of St. John Lateran is the oldest and ranks first (being the cathedral of Rome) among the four major basilicas of Rome. It also holds the title of “Ecumenical mother church” or mother church of the whole inhabited world among all Roman Catholics. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome (thus, containing the papal throne, Cathedra Romana), it ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church and even above the famous Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.An inscription on the façade, Christo Salvatore, dedicates the Lateran as Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour since the cathedrals of all patriarchs are said to be dedicated to Christ himself.