The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV was sold to the village of Dolton, a south Chicago suburb, at a 70% premium to the initial asking price.
The three-bedroom house about 20 miles south of downtown Chicago was purchased for $375,000 in a deal this week, according to Steve Budzik, the agent representing the seller. Dolton plans to work the Archdiocese of Chicago to turn the property into a landmark.
The sale caps the modest home’s complicated journey since Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was selected as the next pope in May. The house was in January listed for sale at $219,000 after a local property flipper bought it for $66,000 and renovated it.
When news broke that Prevost was selected to be the first ever American pope, the seller pulled the property from the market, and later announced a luxury auction, with a starting bid at $250,000.
But Dolton had other plans. An attorney for the district sent a letter to the agents overseeing the auction informing them that the village planned to take the property through eminent domain — something that never ended up happening.
“I’m happy for the village,” Budzik said in an interview. “I think they were the best buyer for that property, and it’s great for win for them.”
The village of Dolton, where home prices average $177,000 according to Redfin, said it had reached a “mutual purchase agreement” with the seller and it was working to move forward with plans to “make this property a meaningful and valuable asset to our community.”
