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From the Pastor’s Desk
November 9th the Universal Church will celebrate the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Papal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. It is the only Papal Archbasilica (“arch,” meaning preeminent or first among all). The church is also the Cathedral Church of the Pope as the Bishop of Rome.
The first time I entered this church was during the Jubilee Year of 1975 and immediately I fell in love with it. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Cathedral of Saint Augustine that there was this kind of immediate connection, but after first seeing the façade, then the interior and finally its magnificent baptistery, I was hooked. Every time I have been in Rome since that first visit, I have so enjoyed time spent in this historic church – the oldest public church in the City of Rome – and during my 2016 sabbatical, I was in it quite often.
The church is dedicated to Christ under the title of the Most Holy Redeemer as well as Saints John the Baptist and John the Apostle and Evangelist. The beautiful cathedra of the Pope is as Bishop of Rome is in the church’s apse. The universal observance of the anniversary of dedication by all in the Catholic Church is a celebration of the Church’s unity under the leadership of the one who is Pope, the Supreme Pontiff.
As one of the Catholic world’s minor basilicas, we are uniquely connected with the liturgical celebrations of this Feast. Even if you are unable to join us at Mass tomorrow morning, please remember to pray for Pope Francis as well as the holy unity of all in the Church.
Love,
Fr. Tom