The Chicago suburb where Pope Leo XIV grew up has taken steps to acquire his humble childhood home before the property can be sold off to the highest bidder at a planned auction.

Pope Leo, who was born Robert Francis Prevost , spent several years living in a small three-bedroom, three-bathroom dwelling in Dolton, IL .

That property was actually placed on the market by a home flipper for just $219,000 in January—four months before its former resident was chosen to succeed Pope Francis , who died on April 21, 2025. By the time Pope Leo had been appointed to his new role, the asking price for his childhood home had been dropped to $199,900.

However, hours after conclave drew to an end, the home was whipped off the market by the seller, Pawel Radzik , who realized that he could earn a much heftier profit in light of the very prominent new position its former resident now holds.

Soon after the home's listing was taken down, Radzik's real estate agent, Steve Budzik , announced plans to sell off the property to the highest bidder in an auction through Paramount Realty USA that is set to end on June 18. Bids for the dwelling start at $250,000.

Those plans sparked some concern among local residents in Dolton, many of whom had called for the home to be turned into a historical attraction, with one, Donna Sagna , telling local outlet WGN News: "I hope it continues to be a historical place for us all ... I think they should keep it as a beautiful, historic landmark for Illinois ."

Now, the Village of Dolton is carrying out plans to do exactly that, announcing through its attorney, Burton S. Odelson , that it plans to acquire the property, either by purchasing it, or through eminent domain—a legal process that enables the government to take ownership of a private home for public use, without the owner's consent, provided they are given fair compensation.

"The Village of Dolton intends to purchase this home either through direct purchase or through their eminent domain power," Odelson wrote in a letter sent to Paramount Realty USA, according to the New York Times .

"The Village intends to work with the Chicago Archdiocese and other agencies to allow the home to be viewed and visited by the public as a historic site."

Odelson told the Times that negotiations with the seller have begun, noting that the Village of Dolton and the local archdiocese would prefer to avoid eminent domain, because that process would not only be costly, but also fuel the ongoing news coverage about the home.

"[It] keeps the home in the news and not the light that the village or the church want," he said. "We don’t want it to be a controversy; we want it to be a sacred site."

According to Budzik, his client is "excited to have the potential opportunity to work with the church, the archdiocese and the village of Dolton to purchase the property."

Radzik purchased the dwelling for $66,000 in May 2024, according to records, and had originally intended to flip it for a profit, carrying out extensive renovations before putting it back on the market.

The listing agent added that he and the seller had made the decision to auction the home after struggling to set an asking price that fit the property's new historical legacy—a legacy that the new listing description makes very clear, hailing the home as a "piece of Papal history."

"A truly one-of-a-kind opportunity, this beautifully-updated home isn't just a charming three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence... It's the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope in history," it now reads.

"Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago and raised right here in Dolton, Pope Leo XIV's journey from this humble neighborhood to the Vatican is a testament to faith, perseverance, and purpose. Now, you have the rare chance to own a tangible piece of his inspiring legacy...

"Whether you're a homeowner searching for a meaningful space to call your own or an investor looking for a property with historical significance and high potential, this is an opportunity like no other. Own a place where history was made—a story of transformation, legacy, and limitless potential."

Dolton is not the only community in the U.S. to have ties to the new pope—whose maternal side of the family actually hails from New Orleans.

Jari Honora , a genealogist and historian for The Historic New Orleans Collection, discovered that the pope's maternal grandparents once lived in the 7th Ward, a neighborhood that is known for its diverse culture, with mostly people of African, French, Spanish, and Native American descent residing there.

The pope also has connections to "Creole roots," which date back to 1722 when the majority of Louisiana 's population was Roman Catholic.

"Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has Creole of color roots [sic] from New Orleans on his mother's side! What a great connection for our local population! They left New Orleans and went to Chicago between 1910 and 1912.

"His grandparents were married in 1887 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on Annette Street. In 1900, his grandparents owned and lived at 1933 North Prieur Street, a site taken by the Claiborne overpass," Honora shared on Facebook .