St. Andrew  St. Bartolomew

St. James Major  St. James Minor

St. Peter  St. Philipp

St. Simon  St. Thadeus

St. John  St. Matthew

St. Judas  St. Thomas

It has been very important historically.  It housed the papal residence from its foundation until 1377 when the popes returned to Rome after a few years hiatus in Avignon, France, and thereafter taking residence at St. Peter's.  It has been the sight of five ecumenical councils.  The pope celebrates the Mass of Holy Thursday here every year.  It was intended from its foundation to be the mother church of all churches in Christiandom.  Across the facade is written in this basilica's privilege, "Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum Mater et Caput".

Of interest to see are the statues of the apostles lining the nave of the church (my personal favorite), baldachino over the main alter and of course the Holy Door.  Among the relics housed in this basilica are the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul, kept in two silver bust reliquaries behind the papal alter, the alter (table) used by St. Peter and the early popes and relics of both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

Exterior of St. John Lateran

Baldachinno and  reliquaries holding St. Peter's & St. Paul's relics. 

Close up below

Building housing "The Holy Steps"

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