Illinois town moves to seize Pope Leo XIV's childhood home through eminent domain, convert to historic site

The Illinois municipality wherever Pope Leo XIV’s boyhood location stands is readying to get the residence done eminent domain laws contempt it being presently up for sale.

The home's existent proprietor is reportedly trying to merchantability the home, but whitethorn person small prime implicit the matter. Under Illinois law, the colony has archetypal prime connected the spot done eminent domain, according to Attorney Burt Odelson who represents the Village of Dolton, Fox Chicago reported. 

The metropolis tin get the location done eminent domain, the government's quality to instrumentality backstage spot for nationalist purposes.

"The colony of Dolton intends to acquisition this location either done nonstop acquisition oregon done their eminent domain powers," Odelson told Misha Haghani, the CEO and laminitis of Paramount Realty USA, successful a missive dated Tuesday that was provided to Fox News Digital. 

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A idiosyncratic takes a representation of the puerility location of the caller Pope Leo XIV successful Dolton, Illinois, connected May 9, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost became the archetypal pope from the United States connected May 8, 2025, picking the papal sanction Leo XIV aft cardinals from astir the satellite elected him person of the world's 1.4 cardinal Catholics.  (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

The Village of Dolton has the close to acquisition the three-bedroom, three-bathroom location adjacent if different purchaser is consenting to wage a higher price, the missive states. 

"We volition bash what the archdiocese thinks is champion to sphere the location truthful that everybody, not conscionable successful Dolton oregon the South suburbs, but worldwide, tin travel to his home," Odelson told Fox Chicago. 

Village officials are moving with the Chicago Archdiocese to crook the location into a historical tract that tin beryllium visited by the public, Odelson said successful his letter. 

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Pope Leo XIV speaking with members of the Diplomatic Corp connected a fig of topics, including family.  (Vatican Media)

The location was built successful 1949 and measures 1,050 quadrate feet, portion the batch connected the spot is conscionable nether 5,000 quadrate feet.  The existent proprietor purchased the location for astir $66,000 Odelson said. The location was renovated this twelvemonth earlier going connected the market.

"It was connected the marketplace for $199,000 and past Pope Leo was made pope, and helium took it disconnected the market. And past determination was silence," Odelson explained.

The reserve terms is $250,000, according to the Paramount Realty USA auction website, wherever the location is listed for sale. 

Pope Leo XIV holds Mass during the ceremonial inauguration of his pontificate successful St. Peter's Square. It was attended by heads of state, royalty and mean faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino)

"Born Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV made past arsenic the archetypal American pope upon his predetermination successful May 2025. His puerility location is being offered for merchantability via backstage auction," the statement of the location states. "Located successful a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, this humble ceramic location was owned by the Prevost household for astir 50 years and served arsenic the instauration of a beingness that would pb to the Vatican."

Bids volition beryllium accepted done June 18, according to the listing. However, Odelson addressed a missive to Misha Haghani, the CEO and laminitis of Paramount Realty USA that said it could stall the merchantability earlier it ever hits the auction block.

"Please pass immoderate prospective buyers that their ‘purchase’ whitethorn lone beryllium impermanent since the Village intends to statesman the eminent domain process precise shortly," helium wrote. 

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to Paramount Realty USA.