A bomb threat occurred at the Illinois home of Pope Leo XIV’s brother this week, police confirmed.
According to the New Lenox Police Department, authorities responded to a private residence on Wednesday, April 15, at 6:29 p.m.
“Upon receiving the report, officers were immediately dispatched to the scene and established a secure perimeter to ensure the safety of nearby residents. Out of an abundance of caution, surrounding homes were notified and asked to evacuate,” police said in a statement shared via Facebook on Wednesday. “Specialized units, including the Will County Sheriff’s Office explosive detection K9 were requested to assist in the investigation.”
After careful examination and a thorough search, investigators determined that the threat was “unsubstantiated.”
No injuries were reported and residents were allowed to safely return to their homes shortly after the scene was cleared, police confirmed.
“The incident remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the origin of the report,” police stated. “Making false reports of this nature is a serious offense and may result in criminal charges. The New Lenox Police Department thanks the community for its cooperation and patience during the investigation.”
The bomb threat occurred days after President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo, calling the leader of the Catholic church “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.”
The president also faced backlash for posting an AI photo depicting himself as Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 12. The post has since been deleted.
“[The Pope] talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart,” Trump wrote via Truth Social on Sunday. “I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.”
Pope Leo responded to the posts on Monday, April 13, by telling reporters that he had “no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel.”
Many outspoken Catholics, including Maria Shriver, Sunny Hostin and Senator Mark Kelly, called out Trump’s post and claimed his comments were beneath the office of the president.
“We all deserve better, and we all can speak up and demand better,” Shriver, 70, wrote via Instagram on Monday. “The job of President requires composure, compassion, and the ability not to react to anything and everything you do not like. We deserve better!”
