Chicago suburb considering acquiring Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home
Share this @internewscast.com


DOLTON, Ill. There is a lot of interest in Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in Dolton, Illinois, and the village is contemplating steps to acquire it.

“A lot of people have been coming [to the house]. A lot of smiles; I’m meeting new people,” Donna Sagne Davis, who lives next door, said. “It’s been a beautiful thing to experience this. I feel like it’s a miracle.”

Sagne Davis thinks the home should belong to the people who live in the area.

“Let it become the landmark that it is,” she said.

At a board meeting Monday, village officials moved to rename a portion of a local street in the pope’s honor.

But the village would also like to acquire the home.

“We want to work with the archdiocese to make sure the home is preserved in a very cautious and reasonable manner, so it doesn’t become a place where you sell trinkets,” Burt Odelson, the attorney for the Village of Dolton, said.

The owner of the house, Pawel Radzik, bought the property last year for $66,000 and rehabbed it.

He put the home up for sale in January for $219,000, then lowered the price to $199,000. Radzik then pulled the listing after he found out about the history.

Paramount Auction House is holding a sealed bid auction.

Odelson would not disclose how much Radzik wants for the home or how much the village is willing to pay. He said officials have a backup plan to use eminent domain to attain it.

“We have a legal right to take the property for a public use. That’s the key word public use. A historic site is public use,” he said.

On the heels of former Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s financial mismanagement, some question whether taking this step would be a bad look for new Mayor Jason House.

“It’s a great look for the village to use resources to preserve this site, not only for the village residents, but for the world,” Odelson said. “Certainly beats using hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to Vegas and party, which Henyard did.”

affiliate WGN reached out to the owner of the house but did not get a response. The auction closes on June 18, but Radzik could accept a private offer at any time.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

“DA Cook Jones Criticizes Leaders’ Statements as ‘Premature and Problematic'”

SAVANNAH, Ga. — After the incident at Oglethorpe Mall, Chatham County District…

Mass Chorus Gathering Celebrates Estonia’s Rich Cultural Heritage

TALLINN – Over 21,000 choir singers filled the rainy air with their…

Examining the Most Devastating U.S. Floods of the Past 25 Years

Flooding has consistently been a leading cause of death related to weather…

Examining the Most Devastating U.S. Floods of the Past Quarter-Century

(AP) – The United States has experienced an average of over 125…

How Weather Contributed to the Devastating Flash Floods in Texas

WASHINGTON – The air was saturated with moisture, which powered a slow-moving…

Devastating Flash Floods in Central Texas: What Made Them So Severe?

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In the overnight hours of July 3 and 4,…

Dog Rescued from Eaton Fire Gets a New Home

When firefighters battled the flames of the Eaton Fire earlier this year,…

Preparing Your Pets for Heavy Rain and Stormy Weather

HOUSTON – Getting ready for a hurricane’s landfall means making sure everyone…

Champaign Library Holds Discussion on Reducing Youth Violence

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — In Champaign, the community came together Thursday night…

“Texas Legislators Express Heartache Over Fatal Flooding”

Texas lawmakers on both sides of the aisle took a break from…

Elon Musk Unveils New Political Group, the ‘America Party’

Tech billionaire Elon Musk said Saturday he has officially formed the “America…

Tropical Storm Chantal Develops in the Atlantic Ocean

ORLANDO, Fla. – The NHC has now upgraded Tropical Depression Three to…