First American-born Pope Leo XIV
Childhood Home Listed for Sale, Then Withdrawn
"Considering a Leo XIV Memorial Museum"
A house in the United States, which was listed for sale at approximately 300 million won, has become a topic of conversation after it was revealed to be the childhood home of the new Pope. According to Yonhap News on May 10 (local time), citing U.S. media outlet Business Insider, "The modest house where the new Pope Leo XIV spent his childhood was put up for sale, but the listing was withdrawn after the conclave (the secret meeting of cardinals)."
The house, a brick home built in 1959, is located near Chicago, Illinois. It features three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a total area of 111.4 square meters. According to the online real estate platform Zillow, the current owner purchased the property in May of last year for $66,000 (about 92 million won). It was listed for sale in January at $205,000 (about 280 million won), but the price was recently reduced slightly to $99,000 (about 270 million won).
After the conclave, news spread that the new Pope, who is from the United States, had grown up in this house, leading to a flood of inquiries. Steve Burdzik, the real estate agent handling the property, told the media, "I didn't know this was the house where the Pope grew up." According to him, the homeowner exclaimed "Wow" in astonishment and said, "This is even more incredible than winning the lottery. We were both surprised and honored."
People are taking commemorative photos at the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dalton, South Chicago, Illinois, USA. Photo by AP Yonhap News
On the morning of May 8, after receiving seven to eight offers to purchase the house, they reviewed several options and ultimately decided to withdraw the listing. The agent stated, "The owner may continue to keep the house, but we are also considering options such as turning it into a museum commemorating Pope Leo XIV or converting it into a rental space where people can stay." It is also reported that they are considering consulting with Leo XIV's older brother, who currently lives in Illinois.
Leo XIV, elected as the 267th Pope, has drawn attention as the first American-born pontiff. His predecessor, Pope Francis, elevated him to cardinal in 2023 and appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key department within the Vatican responsible for overseeing the appointment of bishops worldwide. During his tenure as Prefect, he led Pope Francis's reform initiative to include women for the first time in the voting panel that selects candidates for bishop.
Regarding his election, The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that "while various ideological factions were debating between a pope who would continue Pope Francis's inclusive agenda and one who would return to conservative doctrine, a 'balanced centrist' emerged as the alternative and received support." According to NYT, an X (formerly Twitter) account believed to have been operated under his birth name, Robert Prevost, featured posts critical of the Trump administration's immigration policies. However, it has not been confirmed that Leo XIV personally managed the account.
The famous hot dog restaurant in Chicago, "Wieners Circle," displayed a sign in Latin after the conclave that read "He ate our hot dog." Photo by AP Yonhap News
His election as the first American-born pope was met with enthusiastic reactions in his hometown of Chicago. The famous hot dog restaurant in Chicago, "Wieners Circle," displayed a sign in Latin after the conclave that read "He ate our hot dog" to express their welcome.
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