The village board of Dolton, a south Chicago suburb, has unanimously voted to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV—born Robert Francis Prevost—hoping the acquisition will revive community spirit and bring economic opportunity to a town burdened with debt and recent scandal.
Since Pope Leo XIV’s election in May, his modest two-storey home has drawn a growing number of visitors treating it as a spiritual landmark. Local officials now hope it could one day become a museum or pilgrimage site, similar to the preserved childhood homes of other prominent global figures.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Dolton Mayor Jason House said during Tuesday’s board meeting. “We want to do it justice.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, grew up near St. Mary of the Assumption Church and attended local Catholic schools before rising through the church hierarchy. His election was celebrated across Chicago, and Dolton hopes to benefit from the global attention now on the pontiff’s roots.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Residents raised concerns about the village’s fragile finances. A report from former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot last year revealed Dolton was $3.65 million in debt, with depleted funds and unpaid bills piling up.
“Purchasing the pope’s home is admirable,” said local resident Mary Avent. “But with the state we’re in, do we really have the money?”
Despite concerns, the mayor promised repairs to surrounding streets and expects the home’s sale to close within two weeks.
Contractor Gino Ferrari, of Windy City Construction Group, donated a full roof replacement to the property, installing a sign reading “Pope Leo’s childhood home – A roof for the pope’s roots.”
As neighbours chatted with workers and pilgrims arrived by bicycle from Chicago, Ferrari added, “Dolton has been through a lot… this is a positive moment we all needed.”
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