Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

Archbasilica of St. John Lateran – is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome and serves as the seat of the Roman Pontiff. It is the oldest and highest ranking of the four papal major basilicas, giving it the unique title of “archbasilica”. It is the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica of the Western world. It houses the cathedra of the Roman bishop, and has the title of ecumenical mother church of the Catholic faithful. It is outside Vatican City, which is approximately 4 kilometres to its northwest, although the archbasilica and its adjoining edifices have extraterritorial status from Italy as one of the properties of the Holy See, pursuant to the Lateran Treaty of 1929.