Pope Leo’s childhood dwelling in Dolton, Sick., is up for public sale later this month.
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Raymond Boyd/Getty Pictures
The Chicago suburb the place Pope Leo grew up plans to buy his childhood dwelling and switch it right into a historic website.
The Board of Trustees of Dolton, Sick., voted unanimously on Tuesday to place a proposal on the three-bedroom, three-bath brick home, which is up for public sale later this month.
On the assembly — which was livestreamed on-line — Mayor Jason Home referred to as the acquisition a “once-in-a-lifetime alternative” for the village, which lately has been stricken by a collection of scandals over alleged monetary and political misconduct by its earlier mayor.
“We are able to both seize this second and transfer it ahead, or we will let that second go to an investor,” Home mentioned.
The Might election of Pope Leo — the primary American-born pope — has drawn nationwide consideration to Dolton, a village with an estimated inhabitants round 20,000 some 20 miles south of Chicago.
Leo — then referred to as Robert Prevost — grew up within the dwelling on East 141st Place. His dad and mom purchased it new in 1949, paying a $42 month-to-month mortgage, in line with member station WBEZ.
Prevost moved away for faculty and spent most of his profession in Peru earlier than rising by means of the Vatican ranks. His household offered the home in 1996, and possession modified a number of instances within the years since. Most just lately, a neighborhood purchased it as a flip property in 2024 and had been making an attempt to promote it earlier this yr — because the Roman Catholic Church was present process a seismic change in management.
In keeping with WBEZ, the home was listed for $219,000 on Might 5, simply days after Pope Francis’ dying and earlier than the beginning of the papal conclave. However the itemizing was taken down by the point Leo emerged as the brand new pontiff.
Dealer iCandy Realty and actual property public sale agency Paramount Realty are providing it to the very best bidder by July 17, with a reserve value of $250,000 — the minimal the vendor will settle for. They are saying it was renovated in 2025, however stays part of historical past.
“Pope Leo XIV’s journey from this humble neighborhood to the Vatican is a testomony to religion, perseverance, and function,” its informational brochure reads. “Now, you’ve got the uncommon probability to personal a tangible piece of his inspiring legacy.”
Neither village authorities, the realtor or the public sale agency concerned have responded to NPR’s requests for remark about what Tuesday’s vote may imply for the property’s sale and future.
Some locals do not see the home as a high precedence
Whereas the unanimous movement drew a smattering of applause within the room, not everyone seems to be thrilled about this use of village funds.
Dolton has been stricken by monetary and political scandals since effectively earlier than the brand new pope put it on the map.
Its earlier mayor, Tiffany Henyard, is the topic of a number of lawsuits and a federal investigation over alleged corruption, monetary mismanagement and political retaliation throughout her four-year tenure.
Residents voted to recall her in 2022, however an appeals court docket later dominated that election invalid. In 2024, the Board of Trustees employed former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to analyze Henyard’s conduct.
Lightfoot shared the outcomes in January, outlining a sample of unchecked spending and deception by Henyard. Considered one of her findings was that Dolton’s basic fund stability had dropped from a surplus in 2022 to round $3.65 million in debt.
Henyard’s lawyer accused Lightfoot of “political theater” in an effort to thwart her re-election marketing campaign, which was unsuccessful. Home beat her within the Democratic major with 88% of the vote and was sworn in in Might. And whereas Henyard’s authorized troubles proceed, Home has pledged to get the village again on observe.
His priorities embrace rebuilding belief between the native authorities and residents, in addition to bringing new companies to the realm.
It is in opposition to this backdrop that a number of involved residents got here ahead on Tuesday to query the home buy, saying they might fairly see an funding in primary infrastructure enhancements, like fixing roads and filling potholes.
“We must be aware of addressing the problems that the town has whereas we’re making an attempt to handle the money owed and the lawsuits,” the Rev. Ryan Reese mentioned from the group. “I am undecided that that is the primary precedence.”
One other resident, Mary Avent, mentioned that whereas shopping for the home is “admirable,” she worries about whether or not the village can afford it.
“Even when we’ve got the cash, who’s going to keep up that?” she requested.
Home mentioned police and public works have been sustaining the property and can proceed to take action.
“We have had charters are available right here, we wish to guarantee that anyone that comes into our neighborhood is protected,” he mentioned. “That is a price we are going to incur whether or not we personal the property or not … Why would we not wish to take part in that and get the good thing about this historic second shifting ahead?”
Home assured fearful residents that the mission won’t derail from the board’s different priorities, including that some roads could be repaved inside days.
Officers hope historical past can fund the longer term
Home mentioned he needs the neighborhood to profit from its historical past, and spoke of alternatives to get state and federal funds to take action. He pressured that attracting guests would create much-needed income for the village, saying “you can not reduce your method out of a deficit.”
A number of board members in contrast the pope’s home to the childhood properties of figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Michael Jackson, and the tourism alternatives it may create. The Jackson dwelling in Gary, Ind., is unoccupied and owned by the household, whereas the King household offered two of MLK’s Atlanta properties — the place he was born, and the place he later lived along with his household — to the Nationwide Park Service inside the final decade.
“Once we do it the right method, in the long term, it’s going to pay for itself,” trustee Tammie Brown mentioned, including that she’s already heard from supporters of the concept who wish to donate.
Since Might, digital camera crews and Catholic vacationers have traveled from throughout the nation to go to and take photos exterior of the two-story home (though some mistakenly flocked to the incorrect one), in line with native media stories.
On Tuesday, the Village of Dolton posted images to its Fb web page of staff repairing the constructing’s roof. It mentioned the home continues to draw guests, “bringing new power and a spotlight to our village.”
“This elevated visitors represents a brand new day in Dolton — filled with potential, progress, and promise,” it mentioned.
