American town hopes to become a papal pilgrimage site

"Watch your step," echoes through the St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Dolton, south of Chicago. The church where Pope Leo XIV took his first steps as an altar boy is now in decay. The roof has a gaping hole, the paint is peeling, and the altar is gone. "We've been through a storm here, but hopefully, we can get it back on track," says council member Stanley Brown.

Today, Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, will be officially inaugurated. "This is the only pope I know who doesn't have a home parish to return to," laments Michael McGeoghegan, a former altar boy at the church. "We were just a bunch of kids, maybe sneaking some wine from the priest in the sacristy," he laughs.

Back then, Dolton was a predominantly white, safe neighborhood for a mostly Catholic middle class. With the decline of industry, prosperity faded, and crime soared. "It's been up and down," says Brown about the frequent shootings and administrative chaos. "Now we're back on a good path."

The current owner of Prevost's childhood home initially wanted to sell it but has now seen its value skyrocket. "After the announcement of the new pope, I immediately received eight offers," says realtor Steve Budzik. "The seller thought I was joking. It's crazy, better than winning the lottery."

Locals hope the town will become a pilgrimage site, attracting Catholics worldwide. "Hotels, maybe? I think people will flock here to see this place," says McGeoghegan. "It just needs a little polishing."