An Illinois village has voted to purchase the childhood home of the first American pope, with a trustee saying the acquisition of the property is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a gift from God

Dolton residents were skeptical at Tuesday's board meeting, questioning whether the financially strained village could afford to purchase the home and maintain the streets surrounding it.

Pope Leo grew up in a small brick house in the Chicago suburb of Dolton which is now up for auction. The village's board of trustees voted to buy it, in the hopes of creating a historic attraction.