- The village of Dolton, Illinois, has acquired the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV.
- Pope Leo XIV is notable for being the first American pope in the Catholic Church.
- The property, a three-bedroom brick house, was purchased for $375,000.
The village of Dolton, Illinois, has purchased the childhood residence of Pope Leo XIV, the first American to become leader of the Catholic Church, with plans to convert the property into a historical landmark accessible to the public.
Local outlets reported Friday that the three-bedroom brick house, located in the Chicago suburb, was sold for $375,000. It had previously been acquired for $66,000 by a private buyer last year, who renovated the property extensively before putting it back on the market. The sale came just ahead of Robert Prevost’s ascension to the papacy as Pope Leo XIV.
Home to roughly 21,000 people, Dolton views the purchase as both a source of local pride and a chance to honor the legacy of one of its most distinguished natives. Earlier this month, the Dolton Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to buy the home and designate it as a historic site.
According to WBEZ Chicago, Pope Leo’s family purchased the house in 1949 and owned it until 1996. The modest home reflects the humble origins of the pope, who grew up in a working-class American neighborhood.
Village leaders intend to restore the property to its original mid-20th-century appearance and include displays chronicling Pope Leo’s upbringing, faith journey, and eventual rise to the papacy. The site is expected to serve as a cultural and educational attraction for locals, visitors, and pilgrims alike.
Renovation work to convert the home into a public landmark is scheduled to commence later this year.
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