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Property Linked to New Pope Goes Up for Auction in the US with a Bet on the “Pope’s Prize” to Enhance Historic Sale
The house where Pope Leo XIV spent part of his childhood is being auctioned in the United States. The property is located in Dolton, a suburb south of Chicago, and has an opening bid set at US$ 250,000, equivalent to about R$ 1.4 million.
Renovation Before Fame
The residence currently belongs to investor Paweł Radzik, who bought it for US$ 66,000 about a year ago. The initial idea was to renovate and resell. The sale is now being conducted through Paramount Realty and runs until June 18.
Built in 1949, the house has two stories in Cape Cod style. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and occupies a 460 square meter lot, with 106 square meters of built area. It is located at 212 East 141st Place.
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The house underwent extensive renovations even before its connection to the new pope became public. Improvements included new plumbing, thermal windows, laminate flooring, and the addition of a second bathroom. According to the auction house, all changes were made before the election of the new pontiff.
Connection with the Pontiff Changed Everything
Initially, the house was listed for sale at US$ 199,000, but there was little interest. The situation changed after the election of Leo XIV.
The new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, spent part of his youth at this address. When the connection to the house was revealed, realtor Steve Budzik and the owner decided to pull the property from the traditional market and go for auction.
“This is no longer a traditional sale. You are not just selling a property — you are selling much more than that,” Budzik told The New York Times.
The expectation now is to attract buyers from different countries, including those interested in turning the house into a museum or tourist spot.
The “Pope’s Prize”
The CEO of Paramount Realty, Misha Haghani, highlighted that the presence of a famous resident can significantly increase the final value.
He recalled the case of the house where Donald Trump lived as a child, sold for US$ 2.14 million in 2017. The property was simple but surpassed the area’s average price by more than twice.
According to Haghani, the phenomenon has a name: “the pope’s prize.” “In a week, this will be the most famous house on the planet. What the best offer will be or who will make it is a mystery,” he said.
From Family Home to Coveted Property
Leo XIV was born in Chicago, has Spanish ancestry, Peruvian nationality, and is from the Order of Saint Augustine. He lived with his parents in the house in Dolton until he was 14, when he entered the seminary.
The community considered transforming the house into a museum, but for now, it remains private property.
With information from Aventuras na História.
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