Pope Leo XIV Tourism Takes a Step Forward in Illinois

After deciding not to engage with eminent domain the city of Dolton, Illinois has purchased the boyhood home of the Prevost family for $375,000 dollars. The process of creating a full Pope Leo XIV experience in Illinois now begins.

Expect these welcome signs to have a Pope Leo XIV addition soon

The city didn’t have money set aside for this, but officials are taking a big picture approach and view the purchase as an investment that will bear fruit for Dolton for many years to come. It’s a good bet. As the USA’s first Pope, Leo XIV is already historically significant and people immediately started coming by the house he spent his youth in and the church that he began his faith journey at.

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Dolton is considering buying a neighboring property in the hopes of making improvements to the immediate neighborhood. While this is understandable, would it be accurate to the Pope’s humble south side beginnings? Perhaps the best approach is to keep things era accurate to when the Prevost family lived there.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church (with attached school)

An official Papal Pilgrimage page and guide will eventually be a real thing from the Diocese and city of Dolton. But there are already parishioners and fans out there creating maps and directions to significant places to Pope Leo XIV in the Chicagoland area. There is Chicago style Pope Leo XIV merchandise being sold. The Chicago White Sox have identified a seat that Robert Prevost (his given name) sat in at Rate Field and dubbed it the Pope seat.