[ noun ] the site in Rome containing the church of Rome and the Lateran Palace <noun.location>
Lateran \Lat"er*an\, n. The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world.
Note: The name is said to have been derived from that of the Laterani family, who possessed a palace on or near the spot where the church now stands. In this church several ecclesiastical councils, hence called Lateran councils, have been held.
In 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed, with Italy recognizing the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City.
Two car bombs were placed beside two ancient religous buildings in Rome - St John Lateran, which once housed the Popes and was where Mussolini signed the 1929 pact with the Church.
He prayed for "a true sharing of goods and for mutual understanding among different social classes." About 5,000 people attended the Mass at St. John Lateran, which is considered the pope's special church as bishop of Rome.
The Italian fascist dictator used the set to sign the Lateran Pacts with the Vatican, Ms. Ciano said.