In a twist fit for a Dan Brown novel, a modest Chicago-area home was abruptly pulled from the market this week after its owner made an astonishing discovery – the property was once the childhood residence of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
The revelation came just hours after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel on May 8, signaling the election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th pontiff – the first American pope in history. Property records show the unassuming three-bedroom home in Chicago’s suburbs had been quietly listed since January for $219,000.
“The realtor called and said, ‘Hey, the Pope used to live in your house.’ I thought he was joking,” said current owner Pawel Radzik, a property investor who purchased the home to flip. “What are the chances?”
Radzik, a Polish immigrant who moved to the U.S. in 2006, was at a doctor’s appointment with his pregnant wife when he received the life-changing call about his property’s papal pedigree. The stunned father-of-two (who confirmed his upcoming third child, a boy, would not be named Leo) immediately withdrew the listing.
The 1,200-square-foot home features an open floor plan with a cozy fireplace, marble kitchen countertops, and sits on a lush, tree-lined lot. Though recently gutted for renovation, the property’s historical significance is undeniable.
Since the papal announcement, Radzik has received four unsolicited offers for the home as news of its famous former resident spread. He’s now reconsidering his options – potentially relisting at a significantly higher price or even converting the property into a museum or pilgrimage site.
“This changes everything,” Radzik told reporters. “It’s not just a house anymore – it’s a piece of history.”
The unexpected turn of events has left historians and real estate experts buzzing. As the Catholic world celebrates its first American pope, all eyes are now on this unassuming Chicago home that once sheltered a future Saint Peter’s successor.
Would you visit a papal childhood home? What do you think the property is really worth? Share your thoughts in the comments.
