Lateran

From the hostel terrace, we can see the Basilica of St. John Lateran, its imposing statues of Christ, John the Baptist, and John the Evangelist rising above the rooftops.

There is at least one commonality between this period and the days leading up to John Paul’s death: a special evening Mass at St. John’s Lateran Basilica.

Responding to that call, the diocese of Rome scheduled a special Mass in honor of Benedict on Friday at St. John Lateran, Benedict’s former basilica in his capacity as the bishop of Rome.

On June 13, the Vatican said the pope would not celebrate the annual Mass for the Solemnity of Corpus Domini, a ritual which usually involved the pope’s presence at Rome’s Basilica of St. John Lateran.

He was ordained a priest in 1950 and obtained a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, both in Rome.