As President Donald Trump went after Pope Leo XIV police in Illinois were dealing with a threat against the pontiff’s brother, according to reports.
In a Wednesday Facebook post, the New Lenox Police Department in Illinois (around 70 miles southwest of Chicago) said that it had responded to a bomb threat at a private residence on Sojourn Road in the village of around 28,500 people. Police said officers responded to the report at 6:29 p.m. Wednesday.
“Upon receiving the report, officers were immediately dispatched to the scene and established a secure perimeter to ensure the safety of nearby residents,” the department said. “Out of an abundance of caution, surrounding homes were notified, and asked to evacuate. Specialized units, including the Will County Sheriff’s Office explosive detection K9 were requested to assist in the investigation.”
Through a thorough search of the residence and surrounding property, investigators determined that the threat was unsubstantiated. According to police, no explosive devices or hazardous materials were present at the property and no injuries were reported.
“Residents were allowed to safely return to their homes shortly after the scene was cleared,” the department added. As of around 10 p.m. Wednesday, the incident was still under investigation and authorities were working to determine the origin of the report.
“Making false reports of this nature is a serious offense and may result in criminal charges,” the department noted.
Both the Chicago Tribune and the National Catholic Reporter confirmed that police Chief Micah Nuesse confirmed the threat targeted the home of John Prevost, the older brother of Pope Leo XIV. He also has a younger brother, Louis, who lives in Florida. Prior to becoming the first pope from the U.S., Pope Leo was known born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago and he grew up in suburban Dolton.
Previously, John Prevost helped confirm that the pope is a fan of Chicago’s White Sox baseball team from the South Side. However, he also informed the media that his family has a soft spot for the Chicago Cubs baseball team since their mother was a North Sider.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” Nuesse said of the threat on Prevost’s home, per the Tribune. It also reported that the bomb threat was emailed, citing New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, who said he could not share details about the email due to the ongoing investigation.
Baldermann said that though authorities know the threat was targeted, the motivation behind the threat is unclear. He also said the suspect was unknown and that the New Lenox Police Department put extra patrols on Prevost’s street in an abundance of caution.
“No matter who the resident was at this type of thing, we would be taking the same actions,” the mayor added. “So we’ve got a safe community, and I want to make sure that all of our residents can enjoy the quality of life that we have here.”
Pope Leo has recently been in headlines since Trump attacked him a social media post as “weak on crime,” and appeared to criticize the pope for not being on board with the U.S. attacks on Iran. As the global leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo has criticized war as well as the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA,” said Trump, who is also a Florida resident with his Mar-a-Lago estate. “He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!”
Trump faced backlash for his comments about the pope and another post that appeared to position the president as Jesus Christ, though Catholic convert Vice President JD Vance defended the president’s actions. In New Lenox, some of John Prevost’s neighbors weren’t surprised at the threat in light of the president’s recent comments.
“(Trump) gets people riled up and upset,” said neighbor Barbara Thompson, according to the Tribune. “It’s too bad that this happened to John. I see him on walks and he seems really nice.”
The Tribune also reported that a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Chicago said Thursday the FBI was aware of the threat and has been in contact with law enforcement. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker commented on the news as well.
“The level of rhetoric needs to come down. We’ve seen the president of the United States going after the pope – I mean, the leader of the Catholic Church, somebody who is a humanitarian above and beyond any politics,” Pritzker said. “What the pope wants is peace in the world and that’s what he’s advocating for, and the president apparently can’t handle that, doesn’t believe in peace for the world and is showing that by going to war in Iran, a war of choice by him.”
Pope Leo is currently in Africa, according to Vatican News.
“Each person finds joy in making the most of their relational abilities, realizing they contribute to the common good and finding recognition as a unique and dignified person, within a community of encounters that multiply and expand the spirit,” the pontiff posted to X Saturday. “Without joy there is no renewal; without interiority there is no liberation; without encounter there is no politics; without the other there is no justice.”
The New Lenox Police Department asked anyone with information related to the threat incident encouraged to contact the NLPD at 815-485-2500 or submit an anonymous tip through the Village of New Lenox website.
