Lateran
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN, the first in dignity of the Roman churches, and styled in Roman usage "the Mother and Head of all the churches of the city and the world." As cathedral. church of Rome it surpasses St. Peter's in dignity. It is called Lateran from its occupying occupying the site of the splendid palace Lateranus. It was originally dedicated to the Saviour; but Lucius II., who rebuilt it in the middle of the 12th century, dedicated it to John the Baptist; in 1586 it was completely Sixtus V., and rebuilt from plans by Fontana. It has been the scene ecumenical by the Roman Church. The of five councils, regarded Lateran Palace was the habitual residence of the Popes till the 14th century. government. Pius IX. converted a por- It is now under the control of the Italian tion of it into a museum of classical sculpture and early Christian antiquities. as