Pope Leo XIV's childhood home
House in Dolton, Illinois, US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Prevost) is a single-family detached brick house located at 212 East 141st Place in Dolton, Illinois, United States. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was owned by his parents, Louis and Mildred Prevost, from 1949 until the 1990s.[1] The couple purchased the newly-built house with a monthly mortgage payment of $42.[2] They raised their three children there: Louis, John, and Robert (later Pope Leo XIV).[1]
Dolton, Illinois, U.S.
| Pope Leo XIV's childhood home | |
|---|---|
The house in 2025 | |
 Interactive map of the Pope Leo XIV's childhood home area | |
| General information | |
| Type | Private residence |
| Location | 212 East 141st Place Dolton, Illinois, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41.6384°N 87.6165°W |
| Completed | 1949 |
| Owner | Prevost family (1949–1996) Village of Dolton (2025–present) |
During his youth, Robert Prevost reportedly played pretend as a Catholic priest, using the family's ironing board as an altar.[3] The Prevost family were members of Saint Mary of the Assumption Church in the nearby Chicago neighborhood of Riverdale.[3] Born in 1955, Robert lived in the house full-time until 1969, when he began attending St. Augustine Seminary High School in Laketown Township, Michigan.[4]
The Prevost family sold the home in 1996. It changed ownership several times in subsequent years. The house was purchased in 2024 as a flip property and listed for sale at approximately $200,000 in early 2025. The listing was withdrawn after the 2025 conclave, in which Prevost was elected as Pope Leo.[2][5] In May 2025, the house was placed up for auction with bidding starting at $250,000.[6]
The village government of Dolton announced plans to acquire the house and collaborate with the Archdiocese of Chicago to preserve it as a historic site open to the public.[1] According to a letter from the village attorney to the property's owner, the municipality expressed intent to purchase the house, including the option of acquisition through eminent domain if necessary.[1] Local news reports indicated general community support for the initiative, though some residents raised concerns about the village's debt, infrastructure conditions, and the potential economic benefits of the project.[7][8]
In July 2025, the Dolton Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously to make an offer on the property and completed its purchase later that month for $375,000.[2][7][9] In December 2025, the house was designated as a historic landmark by the Village of Dolton.[10]
