A Virtual Tour of Basilica of St. John Lateran - Rome, Italy

(Observer photo by Sharon Boehlefeld)

(Observer screen shot)

Destination: Wishing you could make a pilgrimage to Rome, but just can’t make it? You can still see one of the most important churches in the history of the faith, the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome if you have a computer and an Internet connection.

Why to go: The Basilica of St. John Lateran was the first Christian cathedral in Rome, ordered by Rome’s first Christian emperor, Constantine the Great. It became the pope’s own cathedral and, for the first 1,000 years of Christian history, it was his official residence. Constantine gave the property, which had belonged to the Laterani family (hence, the name St. John Lateran), to Pope Melchiade (311-314). Over the years, it has suffered damage and been restored several times. When the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, France, in the 14th century the residence was in such bad shape, the pope moved to the Vatican, which had been a pilgrimage church until then.
Today, St. John Lateran remains one of the four patriarchal basilicas that make up the “Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome,” as designated by the Vatican. The others are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls and the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The other three churches are two minor basilicas — St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls and Holy Cross of Jerusalem — and a shrine, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love.
In the top photo, a crowd gathers in front of St. John Lateran Cathedral the weekend of the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in April 2014.
The tour begins with an overhead view of the cathedral (bottom photo). The facade in the top photo is the eastern exterior, number 13 in the photo.

How to go: To take the virtual tour of St. John Lateran, go to the website and click on the numbers in the photo. As each “room” opens, slowly move your cursor to the right or left, up or down. Stop any time and the image will focus. Take your time examining the stunning views and listening to the choir singing.

Info: http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org