A hoax bomb threat targeted the quiet home of Pope Leo XIV’s brother, igniting fears that U.S. political fury had crossed into real-world terror just days after Trump’s explosive papal critique.
Story Snapshot
- John Prevost, retired principal and Pope Leo XIV’s older brother, faced an emailed bomb threat at his New Lenox, Illinois home on April 15, 2026.
- Police evacuated neighbors, deployed K-9 units, and cleared the scene as a hoax with no explosives found.
- Incident followed President Trump’s public attack on the pope for alleged Iran support, contrasted with pro-MAGA brother Louis.
- FBI joins local probe; officials detect political tones in the threat.
- Investigation active with extra patrols; no suspects named yet.
Threat Emerges in Suburban Quiet
New Lenox police received an email bomb threat at 6:29 p.m. on April 15, 2026, targeting John Prevost’s residence on Sojourn Road. John, older brother to Pope Leo XIV and retired Catholic school principal, lives in this low-key Chicago southwest suburb. Officers established a perimeter immediately. They evacuated nearby homes for safety. Will County Sheriff’s Office bomb unit deployed K-9 sniffers for a full sweep.
Swift Response Clears the Scene
Investigators combed the property and surroundings that evening. They found no explosives or hazardous materials. Residents returned home shortly after clearance. No injuries occurred. Police Chief Micah Nuesse confirmed the threat unsubstantiated. False reports constitute serious crimes, he stated. The rapid resolution minimized disruption in the tight-knit neighborhood.
Political Shadows Over the Hoax
The threat arrived days after President Donald Trump lambasted Pope Leo XIV. Trump accused the pope of backing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He praised brother Louis Prevost in Florida as a MAGA ally. Local officials noted political tones in the email. Mayor Tim Baldermann called it disappointing criminal behavior. This timing fuels speculation of motivated harassment against the papal family.
John Prevost issued no public comment. A friend, an Augustinian priest, said he remains fine. Pope Leo XIV, from Chicago’s south suburbs and Order of St. Augustine, shares casual bonds like daily Wordle with John. Cardinal Blase Cupich referenced the pope-Trump back-and-forth. No prior threats to the family appear in records. The incident spotlights U.S. political-religious friction.
Investigation Ramps Up with Federal Aid
By April 16 mid-afternoon, Chief Nuesse announced an ongoing active probe. FBI assists in tracing the email source. Extra patrols bolster security around Prevost’s home. Neighborhood stays vigilant. Potential local and federal charges loom if perpetrators surface. Police urge tips via hotline or village website. Chief emphasizes vigilance amid the sad state of affairs.
Short-term impacts hit Prevost’s privacy and local residents with evacuation stress. Police resources stretched briefly. Long-term, a confirmed political link could set precedents for threats against papal relatives. It amplifies conservative-Catholic tensions. Common sense demands swift justice; facts align with viewing Trump’s rhetoric as catalyst, not cause—hoaxers bear full blame for crossing lines.
Sources:
Cops Respond to Bomb Threat at the Pope’s Brother’s Home
Pope Leo XIV’s brother, John Prevost, receives unfounded bomb threat, New Lenox, IL police say
Investigation ongoing in false bomb threat at home of Pope Leo’s brother
Pope Leo’s brother’s home targeted with false bomb threat
False bomb threat made at suburban Chicago home of Pope Leo’s brother
