Dolton Mayor Jason House won't rule out public purchase of Pope Leo XIV's childhood home
Despite Pope Leo XIV's childhood home being recently listed for auction, Dolton Mayor Jason House said Friday he has not ruled out taking public ownership of the property via eminent domain.
'I'm interested in a peaceful transfer,' House, who was sworn in as mayor May 5, told the Daily Southtown.
He said he is excited for the property's potential as an attraction and historical landmark, and is prioritizing ensuring it is 'honored in the proper way.'
House said it's too early to say how much the village would be willing to pay for the 1,050-square-foot home on 141st Place or whether it should be converted into a museum or historical landmark. He said he plans to speak with the homeowner early next week to discuss the property.
Homer Glen-based home rehabber Pawel Radzik paid $66,000 for the modest, three-bedroom, ranch-style brick house without knowing just a year later its former occupant would be named the leader of the Catholic church. Real estate broker Steve Budzik said Friday Radzik listed the home in January for $219,000 but pulled it after the pope's election generated a high volume of interest.
Budzik said he heard rumors circulating about interest in public ownership before he and Radzik decided to list the home for auction.
'I don't know if that's — I don't know the word I would use — a justifiable means of getting the property,' Budzik said. 'So that's again why we did an auction.'
While the auction is set to close on June 18, Budzik emphasized the seller can choose to accept an offer, which are entered privately through Paramount auction house, at any time.
'The auction gives everybody a fair chance at putting in a bid,' Budzik explained. 'And even with eminent domain, I think the question is, what's the value?'
Budzik believes for a home with such an important historical connection, the just compensation required in exchange for the property is 'totally subjective.'
Excitement surrounding the unassuming Dolton home was hard to avoid Friday afternoon. Neighbors and visitors parked on side streets to stand on the sidewalk facing the building, taking videos and photos with their phones as an energetic Budzik led news reporters inside the renovated space.
Donna Sagna and her mother, Peggy, said they are Catholics who lived next door to the house for eight years before learning of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. As they projected church music on a speaker in their backyard, the younger Sagna said she had begun holding prayer vigils to honor their local connection to the religious leader.
Sagna and Amarcia Garcia, a former Dolton resident who visited the home with her own mother, both said individually they hoped 212 East 141st Place would be preserved as a museum, bringing tourism and attention to the community.
'It'd be good for Dolton, to bring more positivity, more people and more revenue,' Garcia said.
Budzik said he understands the interest in creating a museum, and 'there's still possibly some interest' in that on the part of the seller, who through Budzik declined to speak with the Daily Southtown.
But, at the end of the day, 'he really wants to see where the auction goes,' Budzik said.
'The next person, who is obviously going to love it, can do whatever they want with it,' Budzik said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Stormont ministers make joint appeal for end to violence in Ballymena
Stormont ministers have made an urgent appeal for calm following two nights of street violence in Northern Ireland. In a joint statement, ministers from across the powersharing Executive in Northern Ireland, which includes Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance Party and UUP, said those involved in disorder in Ballymena have nothing to offer society but 'division and disorder'. Seventeen police officers were injured following a second night of sustained violence in the Co Antrim town on Tuesday. The violence flared at first on Monday following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. The four-party powersharing Executive is headed by Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O'Neill and DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. The statement released on behalf of all ministers said: 'We strongly condemn the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days and make an urgent appeal for calm across society. 'The alleged serious sexual assault reported on June 7 in Ballymena was appalling and our collective thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones at this deeply traumatic time. 'It is paramount that the justice process is now allowed to take its course so that this heinous crime can be robustly investigated. 'Those weaponising the situation in order to sow racial tensions do not care about seeing justice and have nothing to offer their communities but division and disorder. 'While all of our citizens have the right to engage in peaceful protest, there can never be any justification for the violence that has taken place in recent days, during which residents have been terrorised and numerous PSNI officers injured.' The statement added: 'We send our best wishes to all of those affected by these senseless acts and thank the PSNI and the NI Fire and Rescue Service for their efforts in ensuring that no-one has been seriously injured or worse. 'As an Executive, we work collectively every day to create a safe, prosperous and welcoming Northern Ireland for all. We are urging everyone in our communities to play their part in that effort and reject the divisive agenda being pursued by a minority of destructive, bad faith actors.' In a social media post, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'Dismayed to see further disorder last night. 'Violence is always wrong. I have been in constant contact throughout last night with PSNI and in contact with local elected representatives. 'This disorder and violence must stop and justice be allowed to prevail.' Meanwhile, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald described the scenes of violence in Ballymena as 'unnerving'. She said she expects Ms O'Neill to visit the Co Antrim town. 'I'm sure the First Minister will visit there. And let me say that the behaviour, I found it really unnerving, depressing,' she told RTE Radio. 'It was reminiscent of times a long, long time ago when violent loyalism burnt out Catholics from their homes. 'Let me say everybody needs to be safe in their community and in their homes, calm needs to be restored. 'Order needs to be restored. Respect has to be maintained. People's safety is absolutely paramount.' Ms McDonald added: 'So this behaviour needs to stop. It needs to end. 'And as I say, when I saw those images, they transport you back to a very bad time when sectarian violence and pogroms and all of those episodes. We're not going back to those times, every single person needs to be safe. 'I'm sure the First Minister will reiterate those sentiments very fully, and let me tell you it wouldn't be her first time in Ballymena, either.'
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
Methodists oppose Indiana's attacks on higher education
Gov. Mike Braun, Attorney General Todd Rokita and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith are engaging in a terrible behavior directed toward Indiana's institutions of higher education. Braun, for his part, acted autocratically to change Indiana University's Board of Trustees structure and supports the closure of decades-long programs to address systemic racism. Meanwhile, Rokita has threatened Butler, DePauw and Notre Dame over support for diversity, equity and inclusion. Last weekend, Indiana United Methodists took a bold stance against their behavior and in support of inclusion and justice. 'We aspire to extend our support for institutions of higher education facing governmental threats. Attacks from state officials have been attacks on institutions of higher education, a resolution passed by the Indiana United Methodists said. 'It's important that we stand with all the institutions of higher education… [and] we will continue to struggle against the systemic racism that pervades our nation and state.' While university administrators at state institutions remain silent, or cower in fear, failing to stand for academic freedom, inclusion and the common good, at least the United Methodists have taken a stand. As longtime allies of higher education, they have provided a word of hope for the future rather than seeking a return to the bigotries of the past. The universities under attack have deep and historic ties to the faith traditions of the Disciples of Christ, the United Methodist Church and Catholic churches. In attacking these universities, Rokita has ignored the First Amendment, which sets out the separation of church and state. In Indiana nearly 700 congregations and well over 70,000 members are counted as United Methodists. The UMC vote condemning threats to our universities may not have made the newspapers, but our state politicians should know Hoosiers are soundly rejecting their bullying.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rights group says global brands are at risk of links to forced labor in China's minerals industry
LONDON (AP) — Several global brands are among dozens of companies at risk of using forced labor through their Chinese supply chains because they use critical minerals or buy minerals-based products sourced from China's far-western Xinjiang region, an international rights group said Wednesday. The report by the Netherlands-based Global Rights Compliance says companies including Avon, Walmart, Nescafe, Coca-Cola and paint supplier Sherwin-Williams may be linked to titanium sourced from Xinjiang, where rights groups allege the Chinese government runs coercive labor practices targeting predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities. The report comes as China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, continue talks aimed at easing their trade dispute. The report found 77 Chinese suppliers in the titanium, lithium, beryllium and magnesium industries operating in Xinjiang. It said the suppliers are at risk of participating in the Chinese government's 'labor transfer programs," in which Uyghurs are forced to work in factories as part of a longstanding campaign of assimilation and mass detention. Commercial paints, thermos cups and components for the aerospace, auto and defense industries are among products sold internationally that can trace their supply chains to minerals from Xinjiang, the report said. It said companies must review their supply chains. 'Mineral mining and processing in (Xinjiang) rely in part on the state's forced labor programs for Uyghurs and other Turkic people in the region,' the report said. The named companies did not immediately comment on the report. A 2022 United Nations report found China may have committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, where more than 1 million Uyghurs are estimated to have been arbitrarily detained as part of measures the Chinese government said were intended to target terrorism and separatism. The Chinese government has rejected the U.N. claims and defended its actions in Xinjiang as fighting terror and ensuring stability. In 2021, former U.S. President Joe Biden signed a law to block imports from the Xinjiang region unless businesses can prove the items were made without forced labor. The law initially targeted solar products, tomatoes, cotton and apparel, but the U.S. government recently added new sectors for enforcement, including aluminum and seafood. A recent report by the International Energy Agency said the world's sources of critical minerals are increasingly concentrated in a few countries, notably China, which is also a leading refining and processing base for lithium, cobalt, graphite and other minerals. Many of China's major minerals corporations have invested in the exploration and mining of lithium, a key component for electric vehicle batteries, in Xinjiang, Global Rights Compliance said. Xinjiang is also China's top source of beryllium, a mineral used for aerospace, defense and telecommunications, its report said.
