Anchor 1 ▼ Gregorian Portico • This column has an inscription from the original consecration of the basilica in 390 by Pope Siricius (384-399): "Siricius Episcopus...". • This column was originally part of the lateral aisle of the basilica built by Emperor Theodosius (379-395). After the fire, these surviving pillars were reused for the portico

Anchor 1 ▶ ◀ Chapel of St. Gregory the Great

Anchor 1 ▼ Papal Throne • The papal throne is at center with an altar for regular Mass • The papal altar under the baldachin can only be used by the Pope or by those with his permission ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Sacred Heart Chapel Artist: Joseph Peniz and Paul Bril • The painting is Death of St. Francis ▲ ▶

Anchor 1 ▼ ▼ Entrance

Anchor 1 ▼ Presbytery Artist: Alessandro Capalti Date: 1842 • The altarpiece is Circumcision • There is a space behind the painting which hides a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It can be viewed when the painting is removed ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ Chapel of Pius IX

Anchor 1 ▼ Baldachin Artist: Barna da Siena Date: 1369 • The frescoes are saints with the crucifixion of Jesus in the center • There is a story that, behind the grille above, are the heads of St. Paul and St. Peter • Three of the columns of the baldachin are of granite and one is of marble ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of St. Francis Xavier • This is the burial place of Cracow Cardinal Jerzy Radziwill (1556-1600)

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ◀ Apse Mosaic Artist: Iacopo Torriti Date: 1295 • At the sides of the inner arch, from Revelation, there are 24 elders, 7 candlesticks, and also the 4 gospel writers. They worship the lamb at the top center of the inner arch • At the base of the inner arch is St. Matthew Preaches to the Hebrews. The relics of St. Matthew were brought to this church from the East and placed in the main altar • At the base of the apse mosaic is the Presentation • This part of the mosaic was covered in 1593 for a renovation but restored in 1933 by Pope Pius XI based on sketches

Anchor 1 ▼ Right Aisle Date: 1300s • These are what is left of old wall paintings ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ Elijah • Elijah the prophet lived in the 800s BC. He is mainly written about in the Old Testament Book of Kings • Below the statue is an inscription with the names of those clergy present during the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception of Mary by Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) on December 8, 1854. There are two other inscriptions which also contain names with the final one recording the event itself

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Portico Artist: Gregorio Zappala Date: 1800s • This is a statue of St. Paul

Anchor 1 ▼ Tomb of Cardinal Gerardo Bianchi Date: 1302 ca • The monument is Tomb of Cardinal Gerardo Bianchi of Parma. Cardinal Bianchi (1302 d) was St. John Lateran's first archpriest • Originally the title of archpriest included a level of authority over other priests but this survives today as a merely honorary title. The office of archpriest was instituted around 1299 by Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of Pius IX ▲ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ St. Agnes Aedicule Artist: Vincenzo Felici Date: • The statue is St. Agnes

Anchor 1 ▼ Blessed Sacrament Chapel Artist: Pietro da Cortona; Raffaele Vanni • The cupola is the Mystery of the Eucharist • The pendentives, from top left clockwise, are a high priest giving the bread of proposition, Aaron, Elijah, and Melchizedek ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Atrium • The columns on the east side are of Montofarno granite. There are 150 total columns throughout the atrium ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Chapel of Mary Immaculate and Saints

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of St. Sebastian Artist: Ciro Ferri Date: 1672 • The benefactor for this chapel was Cardinal Francesco Barberini (1597-1679) • This altar contains the relics of St. Sebastian and was built directly above the catacombs where he had been buried