San Giovanni Laterano is one of the churches I want to visit... they hold a mass every hour in the mornings. Visiting hours are also listed as being most of the day. So, how long are the masses? Do we quietly stroll around during a mass - I'm not too keen on doing that. Or are the masses only a short time, then we can enter and look before the next mass begins?

I don't believe that mass is from the main altar each hour.
It's well worth the visit.

Whether mass is said on the main altar or a side altar, I think it is bad form to visit as a tourist while it is on.

How long a mass takes can vary with the priest and with local custom -- perhaps between 20 and 40 minutes.

I suggest that you enter about half an hour after the mass starts, and if it is still in progress wait quietly until it finishes before you commence your stroll.

I think you need to realize just how BIG St. John Lateran actually is...HUGE!

I, too, doubt those daily masses are held at the so-called "high altar"..more likely in some side chapel.

I think you can visit the church and remain quite respectful while the Mass is going on, especially in a nave that size.

San Giovanni is huge. The daily masses are held in small chapels, not the main alter. You are fine to visit the church during mass as long as you practice common sense: speak in quiet voices and make sure you are properly dressed.

Thank you all..

Very often the side chapels have doors (usually windowed)where masses are going on during the day.
And yes,this is a HUGE church.

Christian churches have had, for the past 1700 years, two roles: they're places to worship God, and places where the community does more or less whatever the community wants to do.

In Rome (and Lourdes, and Assisi) that community's the world. And letting man glory in what man has built to the glory of God is just as important a part of the job of a church as being a location for the Holy Sacrifice.

So as long as you don't interrupt or scandalise worshippers, by all means visit and admire during Mass. Obviously this isn't possible in some churches during the main Masses: but in the great cathedrals (like this) and basilicas (like St Peter's), it's virtually impossible to find a time when Mass isn't being said somewhere in the church.

And if God didn't want visitors there then, why would He have let people build such stunning churches?

We often enter churches during mass (not on purpose) and sit quietly in the back to observe. I can't imagine that we are interrupting or offending anyone. We certainly would never photograph anything while a mass is going on, that is definitely not allowed and is truly in bad form.

Tourists who walk around, take photos and talk to each other during mass (whispers are just as disturbing as loud voices) are a real nuisance, and there are far too many of them. This is lack of manners and respect.

Gotcha, would never do that. Hence, the question.

I visited San Giovanni Laterano during a special pomp-filled service--maybe someone was becoming a bishop? Even with the service at the main altar and all the dignitaries and special choirs, the worshippers only filled about one third of the nave from the altar back. It is an immense place. It was easy to stay and tour from the side aisles relatively unobtrusively. And there is also a lovely cloister to the left that you can visit for a small fee. (The fee was even more worthwhile when I discovered there were public restrooms in the cloister.)

Luckily my wife and I know American Sign Language and when we find ourselves in such a situation we can discreetly carry on a conversation without "saying" a word. It also works great when you want to talk about a relative at a family reunion. ha ha

dave

I've noticed in the past year or two, more and more notices on church doors that admission is NOT ALLOWED during mass. I suspect that is due to the vast numbers who had no respect for the mass going on. Even though the mass may be held in a side chapel, and even though you know YOU will be quiet and discreet, I kind of question entering IF there is such a notice on the door.