The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff in Catholic Church history, has been purchased by his hometown of Dolton, Illinois, with plans to convert it into a historical landmark.
According to local media reports on Friday, the three-bedroom brick home in the Chicago suburb sold for $375,000, less than a year after a private buyer acquired it for just $66,000 and carried out extensive renovations.
The purchase comes shortly after Robert Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV, elevating global interest in the humble beginnings of the new pope.
A Symbol of Local Pride
Dolton, a working-class village of about 21,000 residents, sees the acquisition as both a civic honor and a cultural opportunity. The Village Board of Trustees unanimously voted to acquire the property and designate it a protected historic site.
Pope Leo XIV’s parents reportedly bought the home in 1949, and it remained in the family until 1996. The property now stands as a powerful symbol of the pontiff’s American roots.
Preserving a Papal Legacy
Village officials plan to restore the house to its original mid-20th-century condition and develop a public exhibit highlighting the pope’s early life, faith journey, and rise to the papacy.
The site is expected to serve as a community cultural center, educational resource, and pilgrimage destination for visitors interested in the story of the first American Pope.
Renovations to turn the residence into a public historical landmark are set to begin later this year.
