At one time to say “the Lateran” was equivalent to saying “the Vatican” today.  This continued up until the fourteenth century.  When the papacy moved from Rome to Avignon for seventy years, the Lateran basilica fell into ruins from lack of maintenance as well as from several earthquakes which ravaged it. When the Popes finally returned, for practical reasons, the Popes began to stay more at private residences on the Vatican Hill. Little by little the Lateran, though rebuilt in reduced dimensions, was relegated more to the cardinal vicar whom the Pope named to govern his diocese in his name so he could devote more time to the universal Church. Since then, and in our day, the Lateran Palace houses the papal vicar for Rome and his household and offices, thus becoming the “chancery” of Rome.

 

           As the Cathedral of the Pope, the Supreme Pontiff and Pastor of the Universal Church, the Lateran Church or Basilica is the head and mother of all churches. It is dedicated under the title of the Most Holy Savior as well as  that of St. John the Baptist. It is more known by this second title of St. John, its full proper name being the Patriarchal Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saint John the Baptist at the Lateran.

 

           If you go to Rome today and visit this Basilica, you will most likely be impressed by the large circular building behind the Church.  This is the Baptistry.  The diameter of the baptistry is about half the size of our Church here.    By the way, if you were to go to Pisa, when you are done looking at the leaning tower, behind the Cathedral you’ll see a similar baptistry. Same in Florence and other major Italian cities. When people, infants to adults, were baptized, the entire parish gathered for the celebration. The entrance of a new Christian into the faith was a central focus of the Church.  Baptism was never then nor now considered a private ceremony.  It was and remains a community celebration.   That is why our adults who are brought into the faith are baptized during the Easter vigil or, if baptized at other times of the year, are baptized during major parish celebrations, such as Pentecost.
 

           Today’s celebrations reminds us of our union with the Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father.       In the nineteenth century, St. John Bosco (Don Bosco) came upon a group of his Salesians and their charges celebrating the election of the papacy of Leo XIII.  They were shouting the equivalent of “Hooray for Leo XIII.”  Don Bosco corrected them by saying, “No, not hooray for Leo XIII.  Instead, Hooray for the Pope whoever that Pope may be.”  We have to recognize that the papacy is a gift from the Lord who appointed Peter and his successors to continue his presence over the other apostles and bishops as his Rock, his Vicar on earth.  The Pope is often referred to as the Supreme Pontiff or bridge builder between God and man. Every Pope has particular gifts as well as particular human foibles.  What really matters is not the individual but the charism given to the individual when he is consecrated Bishop of Rome.  It is important that we not relegate the merits of the papacy merely to a consideration of whoever might be pope at a particular time.  We have been blessed with a wonderful, dynamic and powerful leader in Pope John Paul II.  His prayer and hard work contributed to the downfall of communism.  He has made the papacy global, bringing God’s love and concern to all people everywhere.  Perhaps a day will come when he also will be considered to be a saint.  But even with all this, the papacy is infinitely greater than Karol Wotyla.  We pray for him particularly in these days when he appears so physically frail.  But when his life does come to an end, the papacy will remain as the Holy Spirit appoints the next Vicar of Christ.

 

           The union of all the Dioceses of the world with the Diocese of Rome, of all the Bishops of the world under the authority of the Bishop of Rome, is our assurance that we remain the Church that Jesus Christ founded on the Rock of Peter. The fundamentals of our theology, our liturgy, our morality, are the same throughout the world due to the union of the Catholic Church with the Bishop of Rome.  You may join in the celebration of Mass in a country where you do not know a word of the language, but you still can join the people in the praying the Mass because the fundamental parts of the Mass are the same everywhere as determined by Rome.  Catholics in India believe in the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus in the same way as Catholics in the United States because that which is fundamental to our belief has been codified by Rome.  Catholics in South America are as repulsed by the immorality of abortion as Catholics in the United States because the fundamentals of our morality has been clarified by Rome.

 

           The Ancient Church of Rome was persecuted until the Edict of Milan and the conversion of the emperor.  At that point the Christians of Rome were able to enter into the Church on the Lateran Hill and worship in peace and joy in the Lord’s house.  How wonderful it must have been to be able to come to a holy place and worship together.
 

           Today as we celebrate the Dedication of St. John Lateran, we thank God for our union with the Church in Rome.