House where Pope grew up may become museum after dispute
The house in Dolton, where Pope Leo XIV grew up, could become a museum. The Polish owner, Paweł Radzik, might lose the property, which he purchased for $66,000. The city authorities and the Archdiocese of Chicago plan to convert the building into a memorial site.
What do you need to know?
- Paweł Radzik, the Polish owner of the house in Dolton, bought the property in 2024 for $66,000. After renovations, he tried to sell it for $220,000, and later for $200,000.
- The value of the house increased after Robert Prevost was chosen as pope, which prompted Radzik to withdraw the sale offer. Currently, the starting price at the auction is $250,000.
- The authorities of Dolton and the Archdiocese of Chicago want to convert the house into a museum. If negotiations with the owner fail, they are considering expropriation.
Paweł Radzik, the Polish owner of the house in Dolton on the outskirts of Chicago, found himself in the spotlight after it was discovered that Pope Leo XIV lived in his property. The value of the house increased, and Radzik withdrew the sale offer, setting a new price at $250,000. However, the city authorities of Dolton and the Archdiocese of Chicago have different plans. They want the building to become a museum dedicated to the first American pope.
A museum in the house of Pope Leo XIV?
The lawyer representing the city of Dolton, Burt Odelson, announced that the authorities will do everything possible to acquire the property.
“We've tried to negotiate with the owner. [He] wants too much money, so we will either negotiate with the auction house or, as the letter stated that I sent to the auction house, we will take it through eminent domain, which is our right as a village,” said Odelson, quoted by the "Chicago Tribune".
As Odelson adds, the city authorities have the right to expropriate the property at market price if it is designated for public purposes.
The final decision regarding the purchase or expropriation lies with Mayor Jason House and the Archdiocese of Chicago. The city authorities also warn potential buyers to consider the possibility of expropriation.
