LA'TERAN, Cum cn OF ST. JOIIN, 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," is so called from its occupying the site of the splendid palace of Plantius Later anus, which, lowing been escheated (66 A.D.), in consequence of Lateranus being impli cated in the conspiracy of the Pisos, became imperial property, and was assigned for Christian uses by the emperor Constantine. It was originally dedicated to the Savior; but Lucius II., who rebuilt it in the middle of the 12th e., dedicated if to St. John the Baptist. The solemn entrance of the pope into office is inaugurated by his taking pos session of this church; and over its portico is the balcony from which the pope, while still sovereign of Rome, was used, on certain festivals, to bless the entire world. Tim original church is said to have been the Basilica which was presented to Sylvester by Constantine, but it has been several times rebuilt, its final completion dating from the pontificate of Clement XII. It has been the scene of five councils, regarded as ecumeni
cal by the Roman church. See COUNCIL. The Lateran palace was the habitual resi dence of the popes until after the return from Avignon, when they removed to the Vatican. It was afterwards occupied by officials of the chapter, and is now under the control of the Italian government. The late pope, Pius IX., had converted a portion of it into a museum of Christian archmology. • In the piazza of St. John Lateran stands the celebrated relic called the " scala santa," or " holy staircase," which is reputed to be the stairs of Pilate's house' at Jerusalem, made holy by the feet of our Lord as he passed to judgment.