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This house of God is a total real-estate blessing!

The owner of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in the suburbs of Chicago yanked the humble abode off the market overnight with potential plans to jack up the price — after learning the Catholic Church’s new world leader once lived there.

“[The real-estate agent] called me and said, ‘Hey, the pope used to live in your house.’ I’m like, ‘Stop joking,’ ” said Pawel Radzik, a property flipper who was ready to unload the home for around $200,000 before realizing it’s now a gold mine.


  General view of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in Dolton, Illinois. James Keivom General view of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home in Dolton, Illinois. James Keivom

  Pawel Radzik, current owner of the home, clears debris from the backyard. James Keivom Pawel Radzik, current owner of the home, clears debris from the backyard. James Keivom

  This is the childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Illinois. AFP via Getty Images This is the childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Illinois. AFP via Getty Images

“I’m going to keep it for now,” Radzik said. “I’m excited. … I’m lucky to have it.”

His Realtor, Steve Budzik, told The Post, “It’s like a winning lottery ticket.

“What are the chances?”

The small brick house in Dolton, Ill., was home to some drug dealers for about a year, from around 2017 to 2018, after the pope’s family sold it, according to neighbors.


  Newly elected Pope Leo XIV arrives on the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in the Vatican, on May 8, 2025. AFP via Getty Images Newly elected Pope Leo XIV arrives on the main central loggia balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in the Vatican, on May 8, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

  A person takes a picture of the childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Illinois. AFP via Getty Images A person takes a picture of the childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Illinois. AFP via Getty Images

Radzik then bought it last year and fixed up and listed it for sale more than three months ago.

But after learning of the pad’s now-famous roots late Thursday, Radzik, 36, is increasing the price before putting it back on the market or even potentially turning it into a museum or another historic landmark.

On Thursday — after the world learned Chicago native Robert Prevost was named the first American pope — Radzik received four offers on the five-bedroom, two-bathroom house, Budzik said.


  An undated photo shows Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — with Pope John Paul II. via REUTERS An undated photo shows Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — with Pope John Paul II. via REUTERS

Radzik, who moved from Poland in 2006, said he was at a doctor’s appointment with his pregnant wife when his Realtor called with the jaw-dropping news of his property’s provenance.

The home owner — a father of two who was quick to note he and his wife will not be calling their soon-to-be-born third child, a boy, Leo —said the house had been essentially gutted for resale.

The only thing still original are the walls,’’ he said.

“Everything else was replaced.”


  “I’m going to keep it for now,” Radzik, a property flipper, said. “I’m excited. … I’m lucky to have it.” James Keivom “I’m going to keep it for now,” Radzik, a property flipper, said. “I’m excited. … I’m lucky to have it.” James Keivom

  The inside of the home. Icandy Realty Llc The inside of the home. Icandy Realty Llc

  John Prevost shows an old photo of his brothers, including the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost (left). AP John Prevost shows an old photo of his brothers, including the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost (left). AP

The modest-looking 1,200-square-foot abode — which the pope’s family bought in 1949, paying a $42 monthly mortgage — had previously been on the market for more than 100 days.

“It was listed for 200 [thousand dollars], but there is no way he’s going to sell it for 200 with all the value it has now,” Budzik said. “I’m sure people have a similar idea to make it for tours.”

Follow the latest on the election of Pope Leo XIV:

Previous residents of the home were known for bringing trouble to the block by dealing drugs from it, neighbors told The Post.

“[There was] drug-trafficking. Then it stopped. Then another family moved in, and there was a lot of violence,” said next-door neighbor Donna Sagna-Davis, 50, adding she often felt “harassed.”

“We prayed and prayed,” she said, adding news of the pope’s pad could help the area. “This is going to make it even better.”


  The owner of the pope’s childhood home plans to raise the price before selling it — calling the opportunity “like a winning lottery ticket.” AFP via Getty Images The owner of the pope’s childhood home plans to raise the price before selling it — calling the opportunity “like a winning lottery ticket.” AFP via Getty Images

Sagna-Davis wants the home to become “a special landmark for our community, for people to come here and pray.”

The house at 212 E. 141st Place sits just a few blocks from Andy’s Hot Dogs and Chuck’s Gun Shop & Pistol Range, and was renovated after Radzik paid $66,000 for it roughly six months ago, records show.

Radzik, who was seen Friday cleaning up the house as a throng of media flocked to the property, said renovators painted floors and added bedrooms to the house.

“It’s been quite interesting the last 24 hours,’’ Budzik added.

“Just with all the activity and people are making offers and calling and wanting to see it.”

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