Encore: Pope Leo's Neighborhood
Briefly

Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in Dolton, Illinois, attracts numerous pilgrims and tourists seeking spiritual connection. Neighbors like Donna Sagna Davis create an inviting atmosphere, offering free drinks and fostering community interaction. Visitors often touch the house, hoping for healing or take rocks and leaves as mementos. Davis observes a strong devotion among visitors, and the home acts as a symbol of hope for the town. Locals recognize the significance of the home, and international visitors feel closer to the pope through their pilgrimage experience.
Donna Sagna Davis emphasizes the sense of community and connection among neighbors and visitors, saying, "Food always brings people together, drinking. The outreaches that I've been a part of - they always had food."
People visiting Pope Leo XIV's childhood home often seek spiritual healing, with Donna Sagna Davis noting, "They touch the house to get healed. They take rocks home and the leaves off the tree."
Luis Guanoluisa from Ecuador expresses the emotional impact of visiting the pope's childhood home, stating, "Being at the pope's house makes him feel like he is with the pope and that closeness draws him closer to his faith."
Read at www.npr.org
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