The childhood residence of Pope Leo XIV—formerly Robert Prevost is set to become a public historical site, following its purchase by the village of Dolton, Illinois.
Located in the quiet Chicago suburb of about 21,000 residents, the unassuming three-bedroom brick house was sold for $375,000, according to local reports. The property’s previous owner had acquired it for just $66,000 last year before Prevost’s rise to the papacy as the first American to lead the Catholic Church and had since carried out major renovations.
The Dolton village board gave the green light earlier this month to acquire the home, with plans to transform it into a heritage attraction accessible to visitors and pilgrims alike.
Pope Leo XIV’s parents originally bought the home in 1949 and lived there for nearly five decades before selling it in 1996. According to WBEZ Chicago, the site holds deep local significance and is expected to draw national and international attention as the Pope’s early life gains renewed public interest.
With the purchase now complete, village officials say the property will serve as both a cultural landmark and a symbol of the town’s pride in one of its most historic sons.
