What Is The Cathedral Church Of Rome?

Contrary to popular belief, the answer to this is not St. Peter's as this is in Vatican City State, a territory in its own right. The Basilica of Saint John Lateran holds the title of "Mother and first of all Churches of Rome and of the World" and is the official seat of the Bishop of Rome. It was the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church before the creation of the Vatican state. It dates back to the first centuries of Christianity, when the Popes chose the Lateran as their residence before 1305 when they were exiled to Avignon. It was dedicated to both Saints named John: the Baptist and the Evangelist. It is the highest-ranking Roman Catholic Church in the world (even above St Peter's) and is the oldest of the four basilicas in the Eternal City. Very little remains of the original building but the cathedral is still considered amongst Catholics as the original home of the Church.