Overview

• The Dolton Village Board has officially approved renaming a portion of 141st Place as 'Pope Leo XIV Place' to honor the first American pope, who grew up in the area.
• Village officials are negotiating with the current owner, Pawel Radzik, to purchase the pope's childhood home, while also preparing to invoke eminent domain if necessary.
• The home, listed for auction with a $250,000 reserve price, has drawn global attention, including visitors leaving flowers and crosses, prompting police monitoring.
• Dolton is coordinating with the Archdiocese of Chicago to preserve the property and open it to the public as a historic site, emphasizing its cultural and spiritual significance.
• The village faces financial challenges but views the acquisition as a unique opportunity to boost its profile and protect the site from commercial misuse.