DOLTON, Ill. (WLS) — The Dolton Village Board voted unanimously to purchase Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home on Tuesday night.

Now that the decision has been made, village officials say they hope to close a deal with the owner within a week or two before quickly transforming the pontiff’s childhood home into a place marking history.

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“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We can either seize this moment and move forward, or we could let that moment go to an investor,” said Dolton Mayor Jason House.

But some were mixed on the move while the village reels over financial woes.

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“We need to be mindful of addressing the issues that the city has while we’re trying to address the debts and the lawsuits,” said Dolton resident Rev. Ryan Reese.

“I guess my concern is, do we have the money? And, even if we have the money, there’s called upkeep,” said Mary Avant, another Dolton resident.

The vote came during a special meeting at the Dolton Park District after weeks of negotiations between the village and the owner.

The property was set to go up for auction until Dolton leaders stepped in to stop it back in May.

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“You can sell it if you want, but you must give your potential buyers, notice that we’re going to take it under eminent domain,” said Dolton Village Attorney Burt Odelsen.

The latter would have allowed the village to take ownership for public use of the home for a fair price.

And ahead of the meeting, the property at 212 East 141st Place got a quick facelift as the village says it hopes to convert the place into a historic site at least a month after a deal is reached.

“I’m praying a lot. People use that porch right there like an altar, you know, to come and pray,” said Donna Sagna Davis, who has lived next door to the home for eight years.

And until a deal is reached, village officials said, they will not disclose the amount planned to purchase the property. ABC7 reached out to the current owner for comment, but did not immediately hear back.