Pope Leo XIV’s Outdated House Close to Chicago Delisted After Flood of Curiosity

Information of a plain, brick, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom dwelling inbuilt 1959 hitting the market outdoors Chicago would not sometimes make headlines.

Then the world found that the 1,200-square-foot house is the place Pope Leo XIV, till Thursday often known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, spent his childhood.

Based on Zillow, the house was most lately purchased for $66,000 in Might 2024. It was then flipped and re-listed for $205,000 in January, earlier than being minimize to $199,000.

Steve Budzik, an actual property agent working with the house’s proprietor, stated they have been shocked to study the information of the house’s historical past.

“He was like, ‘Wow,'” Budzik stated of proprietor Paul Radzik. “It is higher than successful the lotto. We have been each very shocked and honored. It was a number of feelings.”

Budzik stated the house garnered “regular curiosity” earlier than Thursday, averaging one to 2 viewings per week, however that the fanfare surrounding the primary American pope brightened the highlight.

“Since yesterday, at round 10 o’clock, I might say my shopper and I’ve obtained seven to eight gives,” Budzik stated. “We took the itemizing off, so there have been no showings, but when we had left it in the marketplace, it could’ve most likely been booked out all day.”

The proprietor has determined to delist the house as they weigh their choices.

“It is like a collectible automotive they solely made one in all,” Budzik stated.

Budzik stated the proprietor would possibly preserve the house, however is contemplating a number of choices, together with turning it right into a museum honoring Pope Leo XIV or a rental area the place admirers may keep.

“Day-after-day individuals are reaching out to us with their very own concepts as nicely, so we’re simply going to attend and evaluate the whole lot and provide you with a plan within the subsequent few weeks,” he stated.

Budzik advised BI that the proprietor has additionally thought-about reaching out the Pope Leo XIV’s brother, who lives in Illinois, for his ideas.

Hometown pleasure has swelled for Leo XIV. Weiner’s Circle, a celebrated native sizzling canine joint, put up a Latin signal exclaiming: Canes Nostros Ipse Comedit (“He has eaten our canines”).

Chicago resident Frank Calabrese, 37, was among the many first to find the house’s new place in historical past. As a self-professed Chicago historical past nerd, Calabrese began digging round on Thursday to search out out extra concerning the lifetime of Pope Leo XIV.

As a regulation clerk for property tax circumstances, he additionally knew precisely the place to look. He searched native tax information and located the deed that listed the Pope’s father’s identify.

“It’s unusual to really feel like there is a private connection to the Pope,” Calabrese advised BI.