What will happen to the pope’s former house? The Polish owner may lose him
The house in which Pope Leon XIV grew up, may soon turn into a museum. This is bad news for a Pole with a building ownership.
Paweł Radzik with Polish citizenship in 2024 bought an inconspicuous house in Dolton, Illinois. He purchased a brick property with an area of about 97 square meters for 66 thousand. dollars, then renovated it and tried to sell it for 220 and then 200,000. dollars. However, when he learned that Pope Leon XIV lived in the building, he quickly withdrew the offer.
The house where the Pope lived. What will happen to the building?
In connection with the election of Robert Prevost for the Pope, the value of the property held by a Pole, of course, increased significantly. This time the starting price at the auction was set at 250 thousand. dollars. Unfortunately for our countryman, the property was interested in the town’s authorities and the Archdiocese of Chicago. They want the museum of the first American pope to be built in the building.
A representative of the city of Dolton has already announced that the authorities will do everything to buy a flat. However, if they fail to reach an agreement with the owner, they also provide for expropriation.
Dolton authorities will expropriation of a Pole?
– We tried to negotiate with the owner. However, he wants too much money, so we will try to negotiate with the auction house, or, according to the letter sent to the auction house, we will decide to expropriation, in accordance with the law as a town – said lawyer Burt Odelson.
He reminded that the city authorities have the right to expropriation of real estate at a market price, if it was later allocated to public. He warned potential buyers to take this issue into account. Mayor Jason House will make the final decision on possible purchase or expropriation.
