Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran

The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in 2021

The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (officially the Major Papal, Patriarchal and Roman Archbasilica, Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in Lateran, Mother and Head of All Churches in Rome and in the World), commonly known as the Lateran Basilica or Saint John Lateran, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, Italy. It is the seat of the bishop of Rome, the pope.

The church is the oldest and highest ranking of the four major papal basilicas, and it is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. It was founded in 324, making it the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica in the Western world.

It houses the cathedra of the Roman bishop.

The archbasilica's Latin name is Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris ac Sancti Ioannis Baptistae et Ioannis Evangelistae ad Lateranum, which in English is the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at the Lateran, and in Italian Arcibasilica [Papale] del Santissimo Salvatore e Santi Giovanni Battista ed Evangelista in Laterano.

There are six papal tombs inside the archbasilica: Alexander III, Sergius IV, Clement XII, Martin V, Innocent III, and Leo XIII.

During the Second World War, the Lateran and its related buildings were used under Pope Pius XII as a safe place for Jews and refugees from the Nazis and Italian Fascists.