Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
Title
Description
The Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of Rome and mother church of the world, as well as the final procession stop. It is located on land once owned by the emperor Constantine. In 311, he transferred the land to the current pope for a church. The Lateran Palace was the main papal residence before the move to Avignon in 1309. Upon return, the popes moved into the residence at the Vatican, since it was in better condition and newly renovated.
After arriving at the Lateran, the pope would perform his ritual possession of the church known as the possessio. The pope would cast coins at the marble seat, the sedes stercoraria, at the Lateran’s entrance. Next he would be led up to this seat, where the cardinals would raise him up to fulfill the saying: “He raised the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the dunghill to give them a place with princes and to assign them a seat of honor” (1 Kings 2:8, cf. Psalm 112:7-8). The pope would then remove denarii from his garb and throw them into the crowd while reciting Acts 3:6 “I have neither gold nor silver but what I have I give to you.”
This ceremony is similar to those conducted by Byzantine emperors upon their accession, illustrating Byzantine influences in Rome during this time. One interpretation of the possessio is that the coins thrown by the pope are his gift to those who had elected him, and an offering made by the possessor of the church, the pope, to its owner, the people.
Popes were crowned at the Lateran until 1870 when Rome became the secular capital of Italy.
Creator
Edited by Ella Parke (2027) and Julia Tassava (2026)
Source
Identifier
Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Description
The Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of Rome and mother church of the world, as well as the final procession stop. It is located on land once owned by the emperor Constantine. In 311, he transferred the land to the current pope for a church. The Lateran Palace was the main papal residence before the move to Avignon in 1309. Upon return, the popes moved into the residence at the Vatican, since it was in better condition and newly renovated.
After arriving at the Lateran, the pope would perform his ritual possession of the church known as the possessio. The pope would cast coins at the marble seat, the sedes stercoraria, at the Lateran’s entrance. Next he would be led up to this seat, where the cardinals would raise him up to fulfill the saying: “He raised the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the dunghill to give them a place with princes and to assign them a seat of honor” (1 Kings 2:8, cf. Psalm 112:7-8). The pope would then remove denarii from his garb and throw them into the crowd while reciting Acts 3:6 “I have neither gold nor silver but what I have I give to you.”
This ceremony is similar to those conducted by Byzantine emperors upon their accession, illustrating Byzantine influences in Rome during this time. One interpretation of the possessio is that the coins thrown by the pope are his gift to those who had elected him, and an offering made by the possessor of the church, the pope, to its owner, the people.
Popes were crowned at the Lateran until 1870 when Rome became the secular capital of Italy.
Creator
Grace Brindle (2021)Edited by Ella Parke (2027) and Julia Tassava (2026)