rome is the place from which catholics believe the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church were formally founded and begun by st. peter (whom they consider to be the "prince of the apostles") as the appointed successor and first vicar of christ. thus while the holy sepulchre is still the most sanctified of places for catholics, the vatican is an extremely sacred place to the faithful (those of the latin church, as well as the churches "sui iuris") as the seat of their supreme authority on earth. important papal territories include the four major basilicas (l.: "basilica maior", pl. "-es"; excluding st. peter's) – namely the archbasilica of saint john lateran (the ecumenical catholic mother church), st. peter's basilica, the basilica of st. paul outside the walls (containing the tomb of paul the apostle), and the basilica di santa maria maggiore.