Pope Leo XIV's Childhood Home to Be Auctioned — The Details

Before the new head of the Catholic Church addressed the world from Saint Peter's Square, he took his first steps inside a modest brick cottage in suburban Chicago — and now, that quiet corner of history is up for sale.

The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, the first American to be elected pope, will be auctioned through a sealed bid sale on June 18, 2025.

Located in Dalton, a quiet suburb just outside Chicago, the three-bedroom brick cottage where Pope Leo — born Robert Francis Prevost — spent his early years is being offered through a private auction hosted by Paramount Realty USA.

The property has drawn attention due to its historical significance. Pope Leo XIV was elected in May 2025, marking a milestone for the Catholic Church.

The home, built in 1949 and recently renovated in 2025, was owned by the Prevost family for nearly five decades. The auction offers buyers a chance to acquire a house tied closely to the life of a global religious figure.

The listing, managed by Steve J. Budzik III of iCandy Realty, carries a reserve price of $250,000. The sale is being conducted as a private sealed bid auction.

Pope Leo, the youngest of three sons, lived in the home with his librarian mother and school superintendent father. Inside Edition, which toured the house with Budzik, reported that the children slept upstairs, while the parents occupied the first floor.

Photos shared from the home's earlier years show simple surroundings that played a role in shaping the pope's early values.

The same real estate firm behind this sale, Paramount Realty USA, previously handled the auction of President Donald Trump's five-bedroom childhood home in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens, New York.

That property, a 2,500-square-foot Tudor-style residence, went to auction on October 19, 2016, with an opening bid of $849,000. Trump lived there shortly after his birth, and his father, Fred, left a mark on the house, including a carved family name in the doorway.

As the auction for Pope Leo's home draws closer, attention around the listing continues to grow. The house, listed at $199,000, stands in contrast to the grandeur of Vatican City but holds lasting relevance.

"We always knew he was born to greatness," said his brother, John Prevost. Nicole Niece, a former classmate, remembered him from St. Mary's Catholic School as "friendly," "nice," and "a very, very good student."

While St. Mary's has since closed, its legacy continues through St. Benedict's, the local Catholic school still serving the neighborhood.

Interest in the property has increased following the official inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's Petrine Ministry on May 18, 2025, in Saint Peter's Square.

During the Mass, attended by more than 200,000 pilgrims and religious leaders from across Christian denominations and other world religions, Pope Leo outlined his vision for a Church rooted in unity, service, and God's love.

"Following the death of Pope Francis, we felt like sheep without a shepherd," he said, reflecting on the recent weeks of mourning and transition. "Yet having received his final blessing on Easter Sunday, and with eyes of faith, hope, and joy, we remembered how the Lord never abandons His people."

He expressed gratitude for the support offered to him and emphasized the working of the Holy Spirit during the conclave that elected him.

"I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy," he added.

He described Peter's mission, and now his own, as one marked by self-sacrificing love. "It is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving as Jesus did."

Pope Leo also addressed the wider mission of the Church in today's world. He called for unity across religious and cultural lines and emphasized the importance of building a Church that embraces all people.

"We want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world," he stated. His message emphasized the hope for a reconciled world built on love, humility, and peace.

As the sealed bid auction approaches, the sale of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home serves as a reminder of how one life, shaped by modest roots, can grow into a path of global spiritual leadership. The property's transition from private residence to public interest mirrors the journey of the man who once called it home.