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5d ago

Childhood Home of First American Pope Heads to Auction

The Dolton, Illinois, house where Pope Leo XIV grew up will be sold in a private online auction starting June 18, with a reserve price of $250,000.

The childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV is seen in Dolton, Illinois, on May 9, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on May 8, 2025, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Tens of thousands of people packed in St Peter’s Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, waving with both hands, smiling and bowing. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP) (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
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Letty Matias, left, of Hammond, Indiana, and her sister, Jenny Matias, of Whiting, Indiana, take photos of the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dolton May 16, 2025. “We already love Pope Leo,” Letty Matias said. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • The home, located at 212 E. 141st Place in Dolton, Illinois, was owned by Pope Leo XIV's family during his childhood and is the only home in the U.S. linked to an American-born pope.
  • Purchased in May 2024 for $66,000 by Pawel Radzik, the property was extensively renovated before its initial listing earlier this year, which was later pulled following the pope's election.
  • The auction, managed by Paramount Realty USA, will begin June 18, with the seller reserving the right to reject bids below the $250,000 reserve price.
  • The property has garnered significant attention due to its connection to Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected as the first American pontiff on May 8, 2025.
  • Paramount Realty USA, known for auctioning Donald Trump’s childhood home, anticipates heightened interest driven by the historical and cultural significance of the property.