SAN JUAN DE LETRÁN: Leo XIV will take possession of the mother cathedral of all the churches and receive a tribute

All popes are invested as bishops of Rome not in the Basilica of San Pedro but in its authentic episcopal headquarters: an even older temple, opened almost 1,700 years ago on the Roman Colina del Celio.

This is the papal archibasilic cathedral of the Blessed Savior of the World and the Saints Juan Bautista and Juan Evangelista in Lartán, better known as San Juan de Letán, the true cathedral of Rome. This temple carries the honorary title of All the city and the world’s mother and head (“Mother and head of all the churches of the city of Rome and the entire world”).

During its almost 1,700 years dedicated to worship, San Juan de Letrán has survived the innumerable crises that Rome has gone through. Among others, the barbarian invasions of the VIII and IX centuries or the successive fires in a city always convulsed.

This Sunday, Pope Leo XIV will take possession of this basilica, in a gesture that underlines his role as a bishop of Rome. Before, the city of Rome will pay tribute. The act will take place at 4:15 p.m. at the Piazza Dell’ara Coeli, at the foot of the staircase of the Campidoglio, where the pontiff will be received by the mayor, Roberto Gualtieri. It will not be an official visit, but a courtesy greeting.

As reported Vatican News, It will be a “tribute to the city of Rome”, with which the civil authorities of the Italian capital will express their closeness to the new Pope. This gesture is deeply rooted in the history of the relations between the papacy and the city.

The last pontiff in starring this greeting was Paul VI who met with the mayor of the time, Glauco Della Porta. In 1978 this gesture should be repeated, but Juan Pablo I never reached the official meeting at the headquarters of the City of Rome, since he died a month after his election.

The taking of possession of San Juan de Letán is the third of the four stages that contemplates the beginning of its pontificate, which officially began with the Mass held last Sunday, May 18 in the Plaza de San Pedro and which continued on Tuesday, May 20 in the Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros, where the tomb of the apostle is located.

Christianity in Rome began in San Pablo Extramuros

“We can say that Christianity in Rome began here,” P. Ludovico Torrisi, novices teacher of the abbey of St. Paul, explains to Ewtn News. You are not reason.

In this basilica, the first Christians erected a sepulchral chapel, subsequently transformed into a basilica by the Constantine Emperor and consecrated in 324 by Pope Silvestre I.

The Constantine emperor “wanted a true basilica that allowed the faithful to go without being disturbed,” he says. “Since then, faith never stopped, even when the basilica was destroyed by a fire in 1823. The cult continued. It is a place that invites meditation; externally it is simple, but inside it is glorious,” he adds.

The presbyter assures that, in some way, the apostles San Pedro and San Pablo were present at that ceremony: “St. Paul, St. Peter, is one of the columns of Christianity. Pedro is the rock and Paul is the defender. It was he who traveled the world to announce the truth of the Gospel.”

In fact, the Apostle of the Gentiles, who was beheaded between the years 65 and 67, is buried here. Its sarcophagus is just under the main altar.

“Saint Paul is well known and dear, many admire his testimony: he was persecutor of Christians and, touched by the grace of God, changed completely life, faced death with courage and wrote letters that are of extraordinary beauty,” explains Fr. Torrisi.

His legacy, according to the priest, can be summarized in three words: “Mission, truth and Christian unity.” “When coming here, the Pope personally takes care of these three essential dimensions of the Apostolic Ministry,” he says.

A temple for the unity of Christians

The Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros has frequently been the scene of ecumenical moments. In fact, on the sides of this millenary temple there is an engraving that says omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput (mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world). For example, it hosted the ecumenical conference entitled “Calls to Hope”, an encounter that brought together faithful of more than twenty Christian churches from four continents, who prayed together for peace and reconciliation.

In fact, St. Paul who from his conversion to his way to martyrdom, going through his indefatigable trips, demonstrated his courage to face conflicts, was a great defender of the unit. “He said that there are no slaves or libertos, or Jews, neither Greeks, neither men nor women, because we are all united in the heart of Christ,” emphasizes Father Torrisi. “This place is visited by all: Catholics, Christians and non -Christians,” concludes Fr. Torrisi.

(Bénédicte Cedergren, associated producer of “Ewtn News Nightly” and Valentina di Donato, journalist of “Ewtn News Nightly” have collaborated in this article)