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The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘He is keeping his cards close to his chest': Pope Leo's first three months
A few days after his election as pope in May, Leo XIV stepped into a chauffeur-driven black Volkswagen minivan with tinted windows and made a surprise visit to the international headquarters of the Augustinian order in Rome. Not only was he the first American pope, the tiny religious order that Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, ran for 12 years had also just produced its first pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic church. Still somewhat bewildered by his election, he had a yearning to see his fellow Augustinian brothers. Over lunch, Leo spoke about the sudden change to his life and how he would need to renounce his pleasure of driving or freely going for a walk. 'He appeared very tense on TV so it was nice to see him more relaxed,' said Pasquale Cormio, the rector of the Basilica of St Augustine in central Rome's Campo Marzio, who met Leo during their priesthood training. 'He was aware of the weight of the role, but said: 'Look, I assure you, I will never give up being your brother'.' The new pope's first months – he marks three months as pontiff this week – have been relatively low-key despite hosting plenty of audiences, and the Augustinian emphasis on unity, listening widely, community and collaboration appear to have guided him. Leo's style starkly contrasts with his often divisive and hasty Jesuit predecessor, the late Pope Francis, even though they shared similar progressive political views. Francis, elected in 2013, snubbed the Vatican's traditional trappings by choosing to live in a room in a humble guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace, ditching its fancy cars for a modest Fiat and opting out of spending his summers in the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo, a hilltop town close to Rome. Francis also moved swiftly on making key appointments, travelled to Brazil on his first overseas trip after just a few months in office, and made several bold statements, including saying 'who am I to judge?' when discussing homosexuality. Leo, on the other hand, has restored some Vatican customs – using less modest means of travel, living in the Apostolic Palace and resuming papal holidays in Castel Gandolfo. 'One of the ways the world got to know Francis was through his gestures,' said Christopher White, the author of the recently published book Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy. He described him as an extrovert who 'liked being around people'. Leo, 69, is an introvert. 'He's very much a quiet manager, someone who likes to do his homework,' added White. 'He hasn't yet made any top appointments but he has held lots of audiences – as a way to listen. He's figuring out how he's going to run the show and is keeping his cards close to his chest.' One area where he has been quick to exert himself is geopolitics, White said. The pontiff has twice met the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has spoken by phone to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and has repeatedly affirmed the Vatican's willingness to host Ukrainian-Russian peace talks. He has also become more robust in his condemnation of Israel's war in Gaza, even more so after three people were killed by Israeli shelling of the strip's only Catholic church. The pontiff received a phone call from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, after the strike, during which he pushed for an end to the conflict. Two days later, in his strongest words against the conflict yet, he condemned the 'barbarity' and Israel's 'indiscriminate use of force' after 93 people were killed while waiting for food. 'Leo is moving cautiously but he is more clear in his denunciation of the Israeli government,' said Marco Politi, a Vatican journalist and author of the book The Unfinished Revolution: The Church After Francis. 'This represents a problem for Israel because, unlike Francis, who might have been considered a bit reckless and gaffe-prone, it proves that nothing has changed in the Vatican's continued support of Palestinian rights.' Unlike the Jesuits, whose structure is more hierarchical, Politi said Leo clearly signalled how he would lead the church during his inauguration mass homily when he said the pope 'is not a lone leader or a leader placed above others'. This approach was evident when he handed the microphone to Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, to initially speak out after the attack on the Gaza church. 'He doesn't want to be like Francis who worked alone and who made decisions alone,' added Politi. Geopolitics aside, Leo's main initial task has been to foster unity in a church divided by some of Francis's policies. That said, his papacy is expected to more or less continue along the progressive path laid by his predecessor. 'We mustn't forget that during conclave, the ultra-conservatives wanted to put Francis's politics on trial,' said Politi. 'But they failed, and that's why Leo was chosen – to send a signal that the church is moving forward, not backward.'


The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Pope Leo XIV's hometown votes to buy his childhood home
The Dolton Village Board in a south Chicago suburb unanimously voted to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV. The acquisition aims to revitalise the financially struggling village, which is currently grappling with significant debt. Pope Leo XIV, born Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first US pontiff, and his modest Dolton home has become a pilgrimage site since his election in May. Dolton Mayor Jason House views the purchase as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to bring economic benefits, drawing parallels to other papal homes or historical figures' residences. Despite mayoral enthusiasm and recent positive activity like a free roof replacement, some residents express skepticism regarding the financial prudence given the village's dire economic situation.


The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Pope Leo XIV's childhood home can now be bought
Dolton, a south Chicago suburb, has unanimously voted to purchase the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV, hoping the acquisition will revitalise the financially struggling village. The decision, made by the Dolton Village Board on Tuesday, comes as the community grapples with significant debt and depleted bank accounts. Pope Leo XIV, born Cardinal Robert Prevost, made history in May when white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, signifying his election as Pope Francis's successor and the first pontiff from the United States. Since his elevation, his modest two-story childhood home in Dolton, located about 20 miles south of Chicago, has become a pilgrimage site, drawing visitors from across the country. Prevost was born in Chicago's Bronzeville neighbourhood in 1955 and grew up in Dolton, attending St. Mary of the Assumption for Mass and elementary school before studying theology and teaching in local Catholic schools. Dolton Mayor Jason House hailed the purchase as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," noting that the childhood homes of other popes have often been transformed into museums or pilgrimage destinations. "This is a proud moment for our village and an opportunity, and we want to make sure that we're doing it justice," he stated. However, the move has been met with skepticism from some residents, who question the financial prudence of the purchase given the village's dire economic situation. Last year, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was hired to probe Dolton's finances, revealing the village was \$3.65 million in debt with mounting unpaid bills. The suburb has also faced national scrutiny amid allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption against its former Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Dolton resident Mary Avent voiced her concerns to the board, stating: "Purchasing the pope's residence is admirable. But with the state we're in right now, I guess my concern is, do we have the money?" Mayor House acknowledged residents' concerns and committed to repairing the streets surrounding the property, but affirmed the sale is likely to close within two weeks. He urged the board to seize the moment, adding: "We can either seize this moment going forward or we can let that moment go to an investor. I would like our community to get the benefit of this opportunity." Other board members echoed the mayor's enthusiasm, drawing parallels to the economic opportunities brought to communities by the childhood homes of figures like Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. Recent activity at the home, including a free roof replacement offered by Gino Ferrari, president of Windy City Construction Group, has already generated positive buzz. Ferrari, whose company erected a sign outside the house proclaiming "Pope Leo's childhood home" and "A roof for the pope's roots," noted the community's excitement. "Dolton has been through a lot in the last few years, so this is such a great, positive moment for Dolton," he said. "The community seems pretty excited."


CTV News
02-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV's hometown approves the purchase of his childhood home in hopes of reviving the village
Pope Leo XIV look at a pallium, he blessed for the new metropolitan archbishops during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) CHICAGO — Pope Leo XIV's hometown is poised to buy his childhood home after the south Chicago suburb's board voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase the property, hoping it will breathe new life into a village saddled with financial woes. Since white smoke billowed in May from the Sistine Chapel and Pope Leo XIV was elected Pope Francis' successor, the new pope's childhood home — a small, two-story house in Dolton, Illinois, about 20 miles south of Chicago — has drawn visitors from across the country with many treating it as a pilgrimage site. Cardinal Robert Prevost made history by becoming the first pope from the United States — a stunning decision that Chicagoans celebrated by flocking to churches and sharing memes. Prevost was born in 1955 in the South Side Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville and grew up in suburban Dolton, near St. Mary of the Assumption, where he attended Mass and elementary school. He later studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood and taught in local Catholic schools, including at St. Rita High School. Dolton Mayor Jason House called purchasing the pope's childhood home a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' during a Tuesday meeting of the Dolton Village Board. The childhood homes of other popes have often been turned into museums or pilgrimage sites. 'This is a proud moment for our village and an opportunity, and we want to make sure that we're doing it justice,' he said. Yet several residents at Tuesday's meeting were skeptical about any benefit to taxpayers, questioning whether the financially strained village could afford to purchase the home and maintain the streets surrounding it. The board hired former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to probe the village's finances last year, and she found Dolton's bank accounts had been depleted. The village was US$3.65 million in debt and had unpaid bills piling up. Dolton gained national attention amid allegations of its former Mayor Tiffany Henyard's financial mismanagement, corruption and failure to follow state transparency laws by turning over spending and other records. 'Purchasing the pope's residence is admirable.' Dolton resident Mary Avent told the board on Tuesday. 'But with the state we're in right now, I guess my concern is, do we have the money?' House said he is committed to repairing the streets surrounding Prevost's childhood home and assured residents he understood their concerns. Still, he said the sale will likely close within two weeks. The house's listed owner did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. 'We can either seize this moment going forward or we can let that moment go to an investor,' House said. 'I would like our community to get the benefit of this opportunity.' Other board members echoed the mayor's excitement over the purchase, as some spoke of how the childhood homes of Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. offered economic opportunity to their communities. A recent post on the village's Facebook account showed workers repairing the house's roof and celebrated the home for 'bringing new energy and attention to our village.' Gino Ferrari, president of Windy City Construction Group, said he offered the full roof replacement for free to the current owner, saying he 'wanted to make sure this roof lasts a long time.' In front of the home, the company put up a sign with an image of Pope Leo XIV and the words 'Pope Leo's childhood home" and 'A roof for the pope's roots.' As crews worked on the roof Tuesday, they chatted with neighbors who offered them water and bike riders who traveled along the lakefront from Chicago to see the house. 'Dolton has been through a lot in the last few years, so this is such a great, positive moment for Dolton,' Ferrari said. 'The community seems pretty excited.' Christine Fernando, The Associated Press


CNN
02-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Chicago suburb where Pope Leo XIV grew up poised to buy his childhood home
Religion The PopeFacebookTweetLink Follow A village in Chicago's south suburbs is poised to purchase Pope Leo XIV's childhood home after its board voted unanimously on Tuesday to take control of the property. Since the pope's election, the small, two-story house on E. 142nd Place in Dolton, Illinois – around 20 miles south of the Windy City - has gained national attention, drawing visitors and attracting those interested in the leader's early life. Leo, known before as Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected in May as the first American pope – a decision that stunned many in the United States who celebrated his ascension as a historic moment. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Leo's election at the time as 'one of the biggest moments in the modern history of our city.' Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost earned his bachelor's in mathematics from Villanova and went on to receive his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. He later spent decades as a missionary, including 20 years in Peru, where he is a naturalized citizen and served as a bishop. Members of the Dolton Village Board on Tuesday called the purchase of the pope's home a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' saying that gaining control over the house will allow the board to 'do it justice.' 'We can either seize this moment and move it forward, or we can let that moment go to an investor,' Dolton Mayor Jason House said at a board meeting Tuesday. The purchase will provide Dolton with the opportunity to re-evaluate enterprise and historic land zones and bring 'state and congressional funds' into the town, House added. Other trustees at the Tuesday meeting joined the mayor in expressing support for the decision, with some citing the homes of Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King as examples of historic sites that have brought economic benefits for their communities. Officials, however, acknowledged the concerns and complaints of residents who say that traffic into the community has added further strain to already-dilapidated roads. 'Purchasing the pope's house is admirable,' longtime Dolton resident Mary Avent told CNN affiliate WBBM, 'but with the state we're in right now, I guess my concern is, do we have the money?' Avent told the outlet that Dolton currently lacks a police and fire chief, which she believes is more important. Trustee Edward Steave, at the Tuesday meeting, assured residents that their complaints were valid, but asserted 'we can do this great thing at the same time.' The sale is likely to close within the next two weeks, the mayor said. Photos posted on the village's Facebook page late Tuesday show workers conducting repairs to the roof of the pope's house. It is unclear whether those repairs are being directed by the town. CNN has reached out to the Dolton Village Board for further information.