By Currents News
The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is technically the cathedral of Rome where the pope’s chair as the Bishop of Rome, is located.
Aside from its connection to the Holy Father, the Italian archbasilica also has a unique connection to Catholicism in the United States: the first African-American priest was ordained at St. John Lateran on April 24, 1886, 140 years ago.
His name was Father Augustus Tolton.
Father Tolton was born into slavery in Missouri in 1854, but his mother Martha Jane escaped slavery, taking him and his brother to the State of Illinois when they were still very young.
Growing up in Illinois, he discerned a calling to the priesthood through the mentorship of a local Irish priest. But no seminary in the United States would accept him because of his skin color.
He was eventually accepted to study for the priesthood in Rome, and went to the Pontifical Urban University in 1880.
Six years later, he was ordained a priest at St. John Lateran by Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni. He then celebrated his first Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Father Tolton had expected to be sent as a missionary to Africa, but was instead sent back to his home diocese in Illinois to serve the African-American community.
Cardinal Simeoni explained to him the reason for this:
“America has been called the most enlightened nation; we will see now whether it deserves that honor.”
As a priest, Father Tolton went on to faithfully serve his local community for 11 years before dying of a heat stroke in July of 1897.
In June 2019, Pope Francis declared Father Tolton venerable, moving forward his cause for canonization.
Father Tolton went from slave to priest, but many are praying that he will soon go from slave to priest to saint.