Vatican Radio report: Pope Francis on Sunday April 7th 2013 takes possession of his Cathedral, the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. As we know the prime title of Pope Francis is 'Bishop of Rome', a role he has emphasised on many an occasion during the past month. Beginning at the start of his pontificate when he said:
" ...the diocesan community of Rome has its Bishop and now let us begin this journey: bishops and people - this journey of the the Church of Rome which presides in Charity over all the Churches".
As Father James F. Puglisi Minister General of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement tells us, Saint John Lateran was the seat of the head of the local Church: "... so this title is a very important ecclesiastical title because it's a sacramental title..."
And so on Sunday Pope Francis will take possession of his cathedral, a Church founded here in Rome by the two Apostles Peter and Paul and sanctified by the lives of many martyrs.
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